Do pilots make good money?

Flying is one of the most fascinating ideas that can come to the mind of every person, and becoming a pilot is everyone's dream. The feeling of flying up into the skies and then flying to different countries of the world is something that is closely associated with comfort and class. However, is piloting a realットjob, meaning is it financially beneficial to become a pilot in the long run? Are pilots paid well, or at least adequate, compared to other occupational categories?

Simply put, there is no reason why pilots cannot earn good money, particularly after several years of service. However, salaries for pilots vary widely depending on factors like:

• Type of pilot (commercial pilot, airline pilot, and the rest).
  
• Typically, the type of aircraft flown by the airline is revealed.
  
• Years of experience
  
• Geographical location

In general, pilots working for an airline company earn the highest wages in comparison with other professionals in the aviation sector. Airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers in the United States are paid an average wage of $186,870 per year, based on data from May 2020. However, it should be noted that pilots are paid based on rank and the tendency towards higher salaries is significantly higher among pilots.

Pay for Airline Pilots

Entry wages in the airline industry remain comparatively low when pilots first join an airline. Entry-level pay for new copilots is usually approximately $50000 per year in regional airlines. It thus rises with years of flight experience including going from copilot to pilot and moving from flying small jets to bigger ones and hours flown.

Most pilots after 10 years of experience, and when they become captains, flying big machines such as Boeing 777 or 747 can earn more than $200000 per year. Domestic top-tier captains, flying international long hauls at major airlines, can earn up to $300,000.

Apart from the base wages, airline pilots also receive monthly flight wages called flight hour pay, which originate from 75100 flight hours per month. They are also paid per diem while on the move and it oscillates at $2 per hour.

Another issue that may introduce inconsistency in training is the regional differences even among pilots working for the same airline company. The compensation of pilots across any given airline company is primarily higher in the Asia/Pacific region, while the Latin American, Middle Eastern, European, and North American pilots are paid on average across airline industries.

Salary for commercial and charter pilots

Salary variation in commercial pilots is much more as compared to other fields based on industry type. Commercial pilots in the United States earn $86,080 annually according to the median pay. Those pilots, who take cargo, earn approximately $90,000. A pilot that flies corporate aircraft, shuttling executives about, can expect to earn approximately $100,000.

The best-paid airline-related flying positions are, that the air ambulance transport pilot earns $121,408, while the Charter pilots earn approximately $168,000 as per the latest wage data. As for air ambulance pilots, they are paid above $200,000+ with a great deal of experience, and charter pilots have the same.

What About Military Pilots?

Military pilots have fixed wages depending on their rank and experience, and they do not get paid per flight hour while flying for military branches of the armed forces. According to the United States Air Force, fighter pilots for the Air Force are paid an average of $63,263$148,748 per year. Pay for rotor wing pilots in the Air Force ranges between $51,031 and $136,659 on average for pilots.

Salaries for the airline transport pilots of the Air Force vary depending on rank and experience and can range from $97,634 to $202,492 per year. Navy Rotary Wing Pilots pay up to $148,852 for the O5 ranked captains, as the highest level of experience is reached. Fixed-wing jet pilots range from $74,350 to $169,883.

Elements That Control Remuneration of Pilots

As you can see, pilot salaries have an extremely wide range depending on:

• Type of certifications
  
• Total flight hours
  
• Rank/seniority
  
• Airplane type and size
  
• Local verscross-borderder flights
  
• A minimum number of hours of work per month, with no guarantee of having no working less than a specified amount of working time
  
• Where it is situated/ located

It is also important for those who are interested in turning into pilots to note that it is equally important to note that getting to the highest-paid pilot jobs requires a great deal of commitment in terms of time as well as money. If aspiring to turn into an airline, charter, corporate, or commercial pilot, commercial pilot licenses need to be obtained.

Licenses take at least 250+ instrument flight hours to obtain and there is also required a minimum number of flight hours to be met and maintained at least monthly. It's important to note that continuing education is essential for follow-up certifications, promotions, and pay raises.

The Bottom Line

In summary, pilots can earn very high salaries and this is more likely after the pilot has advanced his licenses, rank, experience, and working for either a large commercial airline, a charter, or for private jet. However, the pay structure across pilots is still relatively highly skewed from the inexperienced to the experienced ones.

A high cost is associated with the flight training requirements with the idea of moving up in the pilot's pay scale in the years of work. However, for those who have a passion for flying, and who have the tenacity to put their money into continuous training, the road to high flying career and high salaries is wide open. Anyone ready to embrace this scenic career path high up in the clouds will be very financially compensated in the future.