I don't have first hand information on the salaries of Finnair pilots, only what I read in a major Finnish newspaper quite a few years ago (2008 I think). The average monthly salary for a Finnair captain back then was about 13,000 euros (USD 17,000 with todays exchange rate but as I said it was quite a few years ago) while a senior captain on one of the big jets flying long haul made about 22,000 euros (about  USD 30,000). Thing is, they wanted a 15% raise... The average montly salary for a Finnish pilot as it was termed, was some 10,000 euros. Pretty outrageous salaries!

 

A friend of mine who made a couple of short flights a day in a SAAB 340 as FO here in Finland two years ago, made about 5,000 euros montly (pre tax).

Another thing to consider is while you might be a Check and Training Captain earning big bucks, as your rank increases, especially when you are put in a training position, your actual flying time decreases. You are forced behind a desk and asked to do paperwork, are sitting in a jumpseat or running a sim scenario (at least from what I have seen. Numerous airlines do things numerous ways).

 

Just remember money doesn't bring happiness :Talking Ear Off:

If I remember correctly, the girl flying the Colgan Air Q400 in Buffalo earned about $24,000 pa. 

In the US ;    $20,000 (NQP, regional t/props) > $170,000 (Chief Pilot, Major airline, heavies).

 

Most other western countries have a higher starting salary (it's very unusual that the US starting salary for a ATPL pilot is basically the same salary you would expect working on the phones in a Call Center!)

 

In the UK ;    £30,000 ($47k), NQP, FlyBe Q400s  >  £150,000 (Chief Pilot, BA)

Could someone break it down. Interested in salary/pay information for US region pilots. I thought all Captains make the same amount and same for FO?

Just as a quick thing-

I was at a seminar the other day at a "world well established" school, he said "If you want to be a pilot for the money, you don't want to become a pilot. If you want to go out Saturday nights, or have Sunday with the family, I would not recommend it"

But I guess if youre flying on FSX, you musty have a passion for it, and want to do it for the flying, so this whole reply most likely doesn't concern you :smile: 

 

How's about this, the CPL pilots flying U206s and C208s for Wilderness Air, out of Maun, Botswana, earn about $500 dollars per month! .... and despite that low level of salary, Brits, Americans, Canadians and other 'westerners' queue up every season to compete for jobs at a rate of about 500 applicants per job!! 

 

Mind you with accomodation costsing about $50 per month, and a slap up meal in a restaurant costing about $6 it's pretty hard to spend the salary.

 

If you have time, check out this vid; these are the guys I'm referring to:-

 

Bush Pilots - Season 1, Episode 1:

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zy9_pZrT1GA

It's for the hours.

It's for the hours.

And the $6 T-Bone Steak

Just to give a European perspective on this, where I work, generally if you're over 30 it's going to be tough starting, if you're over 35, it's going to be next to impossible starting.

 

With us, pay is as follows:

 

Cadets:

€52,000 ($69,000) each year, you'll be on this wage for 2 years

 

FO's:

Starting point: €65,000 ($91,700)

20 year point: €118,000 ($156,900)

 

Captains:

Starting Point: €105,000 ($140,000)

20 Year Point: €175,000 ($233,000)

 

Additional Pay:

Profit sharing: Last two years been about €2,000 - €3,000 ($2,700 - $4,000) per year.

Senior Captain: €10,000 ($13,300) extra PA.

Training Department: €11,000 ($14,600).

Fleet Commander: €18,000 ($24,000)

 

I should point out above, if you're working with us 12 years as an FO, then get the upgrade to Captain, you start on the 12th point for Captain, not first. Rarely are points 15+ for FO or <12 for Capt. used except in the case of Career FOs and Short Term Contract Captains (Not allowed under normal circumstances). 

 

Expect to work to the max 900 hours per year.

 

Pilots enter through a number of routes.

 

Cadet: No experience, no background in aviation. We pick you, we pay for your training, we employ you. Best way into the industry, the way I entered into it. Unfortunately we're one of only 3(4?) airlines in the world to offer a scheme like this. Other airlines offer what's called a "Mentored Catedship", where you pay yourself and get the loands required for training, and they'll employ you at the end if possible. Better than nothing, but not great.

 

Direct Entry FO (DEFO): We steal FOs from other airlines or people who did their training themselves without our backing, who have fATPL, CPL, MEIR, JOC, MCC, PPL etc and 250+ hours TT.

 

Military Background: Pilots who come from the Aer Corps.

 

Any questions I'd be happy to answer.

 

Regards,

Ró.

Here in the Caribbean, starting off as a ATR pilot (Caribbean Airlines), you can make about 20000 TTD per month which is about $3000 USD per month

 

 Unfortunately we're one of only 3(4?) airlines in the world to offer a scheme like this.

Don't suppose you know the other Airlines....?

 

Cathay Pacific, Lufthansa and KLM as far as I know.

 

Regards,

Ró.

I think there's a couple in Australia too..

 

To the OP

 

you only live once, and just because you can't fly long haul doesn't mean you can't have a good career doing something you love.

Cathay Pacific, Lufthansa and KLM as far as I know.

 

Regards,

Ró.

KLM is closer to what you called a mentored cadetship through the 'KLM Flight Academy', which is a subsidiary company. KLM has a deal with the Flight Academy that they will fill up any vacancies with Flight Academy graduates before considering other ab-initio pilots. However you have to pay for the education yourself and there is no job guarantee. They do help with getting a loan and they have a fund to guarantee it in case you become disabled or something like that.

KLM is closer to what you called a mentored cadetship through the 'KLM Flight Academy', which is a subsidiary company. KLM has a deal with the Flight Academy that they will fill up any vacancies with Flight Academy graduates before considering other ab-initio pilots. However you have to pay for the education yourself and there is no job guarantee. They do help with getting a loan and they have a fund to guarantee it in case you become disabled or something like that.

 

I had a feeling that might have been the case, hence the question mark. Thanks for clarifying that for me.

 

Regards,

Ró.