Commercial Pilot Salary Range

In the industry, airline jobs such as that of a commercial pilot are considered to be the most enjoyable careers. However, since this job requires a large amount of work commitment, skills, and expertise; it is considered responsible. The main task of a commercial airline pilot is to fly the plane, abiding with the safety rules and regulations of flying. In the pilot job description, there are many other tasks that a pilot needs to carry out. Presently, the median per annum salary of these pilots is believed to be around $85,000.

Job Description

• Studying the information regarding destination route, plane safety, weather conditions, passengers aboard, and other matters.
• Referring to the flight plan in order to ensure the plane reaches the destination on time.
• Being in constant touch with the cabin crew, and hosts and hostesses.
• Making sure all the aircraft safety equipment and devices are in order and working absolutely fine.
• Being in contact with appropriate aircraft towers in order to know about air traffic.
• Operating all devices and electronics as required by the aircraft to fly as per required.
• Paying attention to all devices and their indications in the cabin.
• Carrying out necessary tasks in case of an emergency.

These are the very basic duties of a commercial pilot. Now let us take a look at the pay range of this expert skilled in flying.

Salary Range

The first criteria for determining the remuneration is the years of experience. The more experience in flying, more would be the salary demanded by these pilots. Beginners or those with less than a year's experience can receive a yearly figure ranging from $24,500 to $50,000. With a total experience from one to four years, the range increases from $30,000 to $60,000 annually. Those working from five to nine years in the airline industry can expect to be paid anywhere from $38,000 to $70,000 per annum. For pilots working in commercial airline companies for about 10 to 19 years can demand a pay from $41,000 to $86,000. But this again depends on the employer or the reputation of the airline. Those with an experience of 20 or more years can receive a yearly remuneration of $80,500 to a whopping $178,000.

The salary even varies as per the state of employment. As of now, New York and Michigan have the highest pay range for commercial pilots. The range in these states is about $41,000 to $172,000 and $38,000 to $160,000 for a year respectively. The state of Texas offers a scale of $25,000 to $87,000; whereas Illinois pays from $32,500 to $71,500. California also has a decent income range, from $41,000 going to $76,500 approximately. On the other hand, in Florida, these professionals have income potential ranging from $35,000 to $63,500.

The earnings also vary from city to city. For instance, in New York, the pay starts from around $49,000 to $175,000 per year. Similarly, in Miami, pilots hired by commercial entities may get paid from $32,500 to $115,000 annually. Another significant determinant is the type of aircraft, whether cargo or people. For example, a pilot flying a Boeing 737 may get paid up to $76,000, whereas one that is a regular flier of a 747 may even receive up to $120,000.

The above mentioned salary details are just projected scores and are subject to change as per certain conditions such as financial conditions and type of employer. In order to become an airline pilot, you need to have an educational degree in any scientific or aviation area, and attend a flight school for training.