What’s the no-kidding first yr take home pay?
09-05-2011, 07:03 PM
#1
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What’s the no-kidding first yr take home pay?
What is the no-kidding take home pay that can be expected from a major airline the first year? Of course it depends on the airline, but I’m searching for current and specific numbers for each company (with no luck thus far.) Thanks for any inputs!
09-05-2011, 07:30 PM
#2
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Joined APC: Mar 2008
Position: Curator at Static Display
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Airline Profiles
Hog:
Go to airline profiles, top-right of APC, near the google-box. (I said box).
Using FedEx as an example, it shows new-hires making $61/hr, and a reserve guarantee of 74 hours. Drag the fields in the pay-calculator (don't type), and you get about $4,400, pre-tax.
You can figure about $3,300-3,500 after taxes, as a rough wag.
My first year at United was about a 60% pay cut from being an active-duty Major...and that was back in the good ol' days of airline pay (1998).
Keep in mind: I don't know what costs are involved at various carriers for health-care plans. I think United's current plan costs nearly $400 a month, and it only covers about 60% of your cost---AFTER you meet a big deductible.
TRICARE would cost about $3-4,000 a month, if such a plan even existed in the private sector (it doesn't). I would guess at most carriers, health care will cost you $2-400 (hundred) a month in premiums, and $2-4000 (thousand) out of your own pocket each year. (Emphasis added so you wouldn't think I made a typo).
Go to airline profiles, top-right of APC, near the google-box. (I said box).
Using FedEx as an example, it shows new-hires making $61/hr, and a reserve guarantee of 74 hours. Drag the fields in the pay-calculator (don't type), and you get about $4,400, pre-tax.
You can figure about $3,300-3,500 after taxes, as a rough wag.
My first year at United was about a 60% pay cut from being an active-duty Major...and that was back in the good ol' days of airline pay (1998).
Keep in mind: I don't know what costs are involved at various carriers for health-care plans. I think United's current plan costs nearly $400 a month, and it only covers about 60% of your cost---AFTER you meet a big deductible.
TRICARE would cost about $3-4,000 a month, if such a plan even existed in the private sector (it doesn't). I would guess at most carriers, health care will cost you $2-400 (hundred) a month in premiums, and $2-4000 (thousand) out of your own pocket each year. (Emphasis added so you wouldn't think I made a typo).
09-05-2011, 07:32 PM
#3
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Joined APC: Aug 2010
Position: 747 CA
Posts: 344
First year pay at Atlas is based on a 50 hour guarantee. Per diem is about $57/day so, you are looking at about $4K a month. I flew more than 50 hours every month during my first year but YMMV.
I would think that you would make about 50-60K at most major companies.
I would think that you would make about 50-60K at most major companies.
09-05-2011, 07:32 PM
#4
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Joined APC: Dec 2007
Posts: 829
Less than you think when you look at hourly pay because you still have to figure in taxes (no tax exempt pay as a civilian), health insurance, disability insurance, union dues, etc. Better have savings built up.
Most people list gross pay. For Net, my deductions were: Insurance - 2.74%, Tax - 12.5%, and various other smaller deductions throughout the year. After deductions for 401k contributions, the total take home was about 80% of gross.
Most people list gross pay. For Net, my deductions were: Insurance - 2.74%, Tax - 12.5%, and various other smaller deductions throughout the year. After deductions for 401k contributions, the total take home was about 80% of gross.
09-06-2011, 01:42 PM
#6
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Joined APC: Oct 2006
Posts: 945
Not sure what you're time frame is, but if you haven't already, start saving $$ now.
I built up a pretty decent war chest my last few years of AD to help cover the shockingly low pay as a first year airline pilot. This was back in early 2001, and subsequent furlough and a crawl back to AD fixed all that, but those few months at the airline were, in terms of pay, a joke. There's been a little improvement at some companies, but by and large, crap first year pay seems to be one of those "because we can" type of things that will never change.
I built up a pretty decent war chest my last few years of AD to help cover the shockingly low pay as a first year airline pilot. This was back in early 2001, and subsequent furlough and a crawl back to AD fixed all that, but those few months at the airline were, in terms of pay, a joke. There's been a little improvement at some companies, but by and large, crap first year pay seems to be one of those "because we can" type of things that will never change.
09-06-2011, 02:02 PM
#7
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Joined APC: Aug 2011
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Not sure what you're time frame is, but if you haven't already, start saving $$ now.
I built up a pretty decent war chest my last few years of AD to help cover the shockingly low pay as a first year airline pilot. This was back in early 2001, and subsequent furlough and a crawl back to AD fixed all that, but those few months at the airline were, in terms of pay, a joke. There's been a little improvement at some companies, but by and large, crap first year pay seems to be one of those "because we can" type of things that will never change.
I built up a pretty decent war chest my last few years of AD to help cover the shockingly low pay as a first year airline pilot. This was back in early 2001, and subsequent furlough and a crawl back to AD fixed all that, but those few months at the airline were, in terms of pay, a joke. There's been a little improvement at some companies, but by and large, crap first year pay seems to be one of those "because we can" type of things that will never change.
09-06-2011, 02:38 PM
#8
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Joined APC: Aug 2010
Position: 747 CA
Posts: 344
Well, it has been said many times on here, but you have to have a plan. The Guard/Reserves can help and it gives you something to fall back on.
I am on Mil leave for re-qual now, and I am netting quite a bit more than I would at the airline. The tax advantages with BAH and such are considerable. I don't owe anybody a dime so, I can live as a Guard Bum if I have to. It helps me sleep at night anyway....
And I have been through one furlough already....
I am on Mil leave for re-qual now, and I am netting quite a bit more than I would at the airline. The tax advantages with BAH and such are considerable. I don't owe anybody a dime so, I can live as a Guard Bum if I have to. It helps me sleep at night anyway....
And I have been through one furlough already....
09-06-2011, 04:08 PM
#9
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Joined APC: Mar 2008
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Two, Supporting
To Dog-Pile on what Atlas said: in the military, I was used to seeing about 18% of my gross pay disappear as taxes, SSA, etc.
In the airline biz, it was closer to 25-30%. This does not take into account the additional cost of most civilian health-care plans....figure another 5-10% of your gross for that.
When you consider that anything you get in the military with the word allowance is not taxed (hmmm: housing, VHA, BAS, etc), you realize that nearly a third of your pay is tax-exempt.
That's huge.
Like Mink, I make far more money and have a better QOL as an AD guy than being a bottom-feeder at a Legacy. Think carefully before you jump. The appeal of large gross-pay does not equal (in all cases) large take-home pay.
In the airline biz, it was closer to 25-30%. This does not take into account the additional cost of most civilian health-care plans....figure another 5-10% of your gross for that.
When you consider that anything you get in the military with the word allowance is not taxed (hmmm: housing, VHA, BAS, etc), you realize that nearly a third of your pay is tax-exempt.
That's huge.
Like Mink, I make far more money and have a better QOL as an AD guy than being a bottom-feeder at a Legacy. Think carefully before you jump. The appeal of large gross-pay does not equal (in all cases) large take-home pay.
09-06-2011, 07:41 PM
#10
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Joined APC: Jul 2006
Position: Left Seat, Toyota Tacoma
Posts: 593
Take your military pay and add 25%. That's what you need to make as a civilian to enjoy the same amount of disposable income. That $2,000 per month in BAH really equates to about $2,500 of civilian pay before taxes. Add about $500 per month for health care. Add about $500 to $1000 per month in 401(k) contributions that you never needed to make as a military member.
My take-home income during CAL was a whopping $2,000 per month after taxes. Granted, I typically dropped a few days per month from CAL to do some military flying, so I guess you could clear about $2,500 if you flew your ass off.
My take-home income during CAL was a whopping $2,000 per month after taxes. Granted, I typically dropped a few days per month from CAL to do some military flying, so I guess you could clear about $2,500 if you flew your ass off.
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