If I change my career to pilot, what can I expect to make in the 5 years following obtaining a commercial license?
And a multi rating? With about 550 hours
And a multi rating? With about 550 hours
Zaphod Beeblebrox
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At only 550 hours total time you'll be qualified to be a flight instructor (if you get the rating), or fly day VFR part-135 charter, meaning something like a Cessna 207 or Cherokee Six. Typical starting pay for that in the "lower 48", such as sight-seeing tours at the Grand Canyon or hauling skydivers is under $35k per year. In Alaska it is higher. If you were to get lucky and find a co-pilot job in a twin with a charter company, the pay wouldn't be much higher. The regional airlines aren't an option until you hold an ATP. Insurance requirements to fly SIC on a corporate jet are typically more than 1500 hours. With 5 years experience and a couple thousand hours under your belt, you shouldn't have much difficulty breaking the $50k per year barrier.
Call me Ishmael
With 500 hours, you could expect to need to have a job outside of aviation.
Starrysky
Not very much per year, multiply by 5 for a total of about $100K.
You start very low on an hourly salary for first officer of a regional or freight airline. You are paid for "chock to chock" time. Showing up at planning desk, then going to plane, doing inspection, pre-taxi check list do not count, as does the time after gate parking, report writing, checkout at desk. After quite a time, if you are good, you might get promoted to pilot, and earn almost double. After a few more years, you could apply at a major airline. Should be lots of jobs opening as workforce ages and retires or gets promotions. Pay at major airlines is a lot better, and some are salary jobs for a fixed amount of pay (you fly a minimum number of hours, and can fly more within rules for rest and distances).
Anonymous
Regional airline pilot pay.
Anonymous
In the area of $225,000.