We make WHAT!?

If you're reading this, then you likely understand that regional pilots, specifically first officers, do not make a whole lot of money. The other 99.999% of the public think that every airline pilot makes six figures. This is just the way of things.

A recent issue of Professional Pilot magazine ran a "2010 Pilot Salary Recap." I was curious, so I paged to that section. They showed the typical pay ranges for various turboprops, bizjets and the like. Then, I saw a category for Regional Jets. I was VERY curious.

Here are the pay rates they published for part 121 (aka airline) first officers in regional jets:

CRJ200 Average: $42,000 Low: $27,000 High: $62,000
CRJ700 Average: $47,000 Low: $35,000 High: $65,000
CRJ900 Average: $50,000 Low: $38,000 High: $71,000
ERJ145 Average: $42,000 Low: $31,000 High: $63,000
ERJ175 Average: $47,000 Low: $36,000 High: $67,000

All I could say after reading this was, "WTF!? Are you kidding me?!?!? Where in the holiest of all hells are you getting this information?" I emailed then asking them to justify this garbage information. Here's what I got back from them:

Dear Pilot Stig,

"We're Gay!"

-Propilot Magazine

OK, that's not what I got back. I haven't contacted them. I was about to, but then I found where they explain the data they have. Turns out, they sent out surveys to pilots and the data they gather back is what they publish. They do claim, however, they have a verification process of this data. Huh. Well, I guess there are a few points to make here:

If this data is just from pilots answering surveys, one would imagine that those pilots with embarrassingly low pay rates, wouldn't be as willing to let others know just how little they are paid. Pilots have egos, you know. Those pilots doing well, would feel more accomplished showing the salary they earn. This would sway the figures to the high side.

Lets also take note that the article states they received 22.2% of their surveys back from pilots. That's means that nearly 4/5ths of the data is MISSING!!! That's not an insignificant portion. This study is being published using data from 1/5th of the pilots they queried.

Since all pay rates are based on seniority (i.e. years of service), new hire FOs would be the lowest paid pilots. I would have to say that I don't know of a single US regional airline that pays their new hire FOs $30,000/year, yet the low figures published here are all OVER $30,000. That just doesn't pass the sniff test in terms of a true representation of what the lowest paid RJ pilots are being paid. Put it this way, back when Northwest was still around, their first year FO pay for the DC-9 was about $30,000/year. You really think regional airlines will be paying FOs more than a mainline carrier???

Most pay scales with airlines will "cap out." You will continue to be paid more and more each year you stay at one company. However, at some point, you will top out on the pay scale and not make anymore for subsequent years. Again, I don't know of ANY US regional carriers who have pay scales for FOs that reach numbers like this survey shows as its high figures. Again, the sniff test is not passed.

I willfully admit, I am only familiar with US regional carriers. Perhaps much of this data is for carriers overseas.

So, I guess the lesson learned here is to be very careful of what you read. These numbers are very misleading. I know ProPilot is just basing this off surveys, and they do state that on the first page of that report. I do question their verification process, since I just don't buy these figures as reasonable.

"There are liars, damned liars, and statisticians." - Mark Twain