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Tristar

Tristar

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Apr 7, 2005
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Tristar
Hey guys,

I'd like to ask this as delicately as possible since I know money is a touchy subject (sort of like asking a woman her weight!) What do you see as a typical salary for a King Air SIC/PIC? I'm curious more than anything where I rate but I have to consider other things like benifits and an additional paid-for rating in the mustang that weigh in to the equation. Most responses I've found to this are either not published or written years ago.

Thanks!
 
Look at the pro pilot survey for 2014. It will give you a good idea what the industry pays for each airframe.
 
If your talking about a King Air 90 at a company than at a company that has less than 10 planes I'd expect 55-70K per year for a captain, and 25-35K per year for the FO. For contract pilots I've seen $75/hr for captain and $50/hr for the FO, I've also seen as low as $50-75 per day for an FO.
I imagine a company like Wheels Up with 350s would pay quite a bit more though, extra 10-30K? But don't quote me on this one, basing that on just rumors.
 
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MachFly said:
If your talking about a King Air 90 at a company than at a company that has less than 10 planes I'd expect 55-70K per year for a captain, and 25-35K per year for the FO.
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I would be guessing in that range for the captain but I have no idea about the FO.
 
Gucci, I forget the name of the company but I have heard of some places that you do. Most companies like mine have you sign contracts for PICs so that if they train you and you leave, by contract, you are required to pay some or all of it back. It only takes one guy to pull that on a company for them to decide on contracts for the pilots.
 
Thanks Shawn! It's still not pretty but I'm not as far off as I thought. I was expecting our captains pay to be average first officer. Although it's sad how much the pay for charter drops in comparison to corporate. So the idea is to find a nice rich boss with a plane..got it, hehe.
 
Yea I looked on airline pilot forums and found posts from '07 and '11. Must have missed something in my search.
 
Tristar said:
Gucci, I forget the name of the company but I have heard of some places that you do. Most companies like mine have you sign contracts for PICs so that if they train you and you leave, by contract, you are required to pay some or all of it back. It only takes one guy to pull that on a company for them to decide on contracts for the pilots.
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That I understand. But if I had to flip the bill...I'd be looking for work somewhere else.
 
I'm not under contract, only the PICs are. Something about flight safety being expensive. :p None of us like the contact idea but we know why. Many companies do this so its not something you can easily run from.
 
Tristar said:
Thanks Shawn! It's still not pretty but I'm not as far off as I thought. I was expecting our captains pay to be average first officer. Although it's sad how much the pay for charter drops in comparison to corporate. So the idea is to find a nice rich boss with a plane..got it, hehe.
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Private owner deals are way better than charter regardless the pay. Quality time with of life typically is considerably better (but not always).
 
Henning said:
Private owner deals are way better than charter regardless the pay. Quality time with of life typically is considerably better (but not always).
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Private owner deals can be very good or very bad. Just like charter. On average though, pure corporate pays more than charter.
 
Everskyward said:
Private owner deals can be very good or very bad. Just like charter. On average though, pure corporate pays more than charter.
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Most owners of baby king airs are cheap bastards. The last trip I flew the owner paid me a half of her cinnemon roll. And she took the part with the thick glazing.
 
Pretty hard to come up with a number based on an airframe across the entire country. 50K in SoCal is considerably less money than 50K in LNK for example.
 
JHW said:
Most owners of baby king airs are cheap bastards. The last trip I flew the owner paid me a half of her cinnemon roll. And she took the part with the thick glazing.
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You mean you weren't just happy to be building time in the fine, high quality FrankenAir?
 
JHW said:
Most owners of baby king airs are cheap bastards. The last trip I flew the owner paid me a half of her cinnemon roll. And she took the part with the thick glazing.
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There are yacht owners like that as well. I talked to a guy a year ago, he didn't like my rate, told me what he wanted to pay. I told him what he would experience hiring someone at that pay. He called me back last week, offered my rate.
 
Tristar said:
Something about flight safety being expensive. :p None of us like the contact idea but we know why. Many companies do this so its not something you can easily run from.
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Depending on the equipment, type ratings can be rather expensive. When I worked for CAE, initial type ratings for the CRJ and A320 family were running between $40,000 - $60,000 per crew. Our sister company Simuflite was charging big bucks for some of the newer corporate equipment. So yes, I'm sure most companies do not like paying for these every 12 months when the renewals are far cheaper monetarily and time wise.

(Yes, I understand some companies offer bottom rate type ratings, but most reputable flight departments have certain requirements for their training that most of those training companies won't meet)

Like Henning said above, you don't like the pay rate you are getting, go elsewhere.

For what it's worth, the C90 I was flying as a jumper dumper was paying $20 per load to altitude. If there was enough business, I would do 15 loads a day sometimes AND be home for dinner. Not too shabby for the middle of Tennessee I thought. Some places in Florida or Texas will do far more. Thankfully, that was a just for fun/in my spare time job. :yesnod:
 
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BGF_Yankee said:
Depending on the equipment, type ratings can be rather expensive. When I worked for CAE, initial type ratings for the CRJ and A320 family were running between $40,000 - $60,000 per crew. Our sister company Simuflite was charging big bucks for some of the newer corporate equipment. So yes, I'm sure most companies do not like paying for these every 12 months when the renewals are far cheaper monetarily and time wise.

(Yes, I understand some companies offer bottom rate type ratings, but most reputable flight departments have certain requirements for their training that most of those training companies won't meet)

Like Henning said above, you don't like the pay rate you are getting, go elsewhere.

For what it's worth, the C90 I was flying as a jumper dumper was paying $20 per load to altitude. If there was enough business, I would do 15 loads a day sometimes AND be home for dinner. Not too shabby for the middle of Tennessee I thought. Some places in Florida or Texas will do far more. Thankfully, that was a just for fun/in my spare time job. :yesnod:
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I'd rather flight a KA for a busy DZ than fly SIC 135 in one, probably equal or better pay, much more fun and cooler pax.
 
BGF_Yankee said:
Depending on the equipment, type ratings can be rather expensive. When I worked for CAE, initial type ratings for the CRJ and A320 family were running between $40,000 - $60,000 per crew. Our sister company Simuflite was charging big bucks for some of the newer corporate equipment. So yes, I'm sure most companies do not like paying for these every 12 months when the renewals are far cheaper monetarily and time wise.
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Yes it's true but you got to look at it from the company's perspective. For an individual 60K might be a lot but for a company that operates an A320 that's nothing.
 
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Ted DuPuis said:
You mean you weren't just happy to be building time in the fine, high quality FrankenAir?
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A flight without running over any sheep on the landing = no complaints from me. More than i can say for the guy down the road with his cessna 182 sheep shearer. And no, like you I don't write flights in a logbook. That's a bit like writing it down every time you drive to the grocery store.
 
MachFly said:
Yes it's true but you got to look at it from the company's perspective. For an individual 60K might be a lot but for a company that operates an A320 that's nothing.
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An A320 maybe, but not all aircraft. The majority of our industry is frugal...at least that's what the mouthpieces say. I don't care who you are though...$60,000 is not small change.
 
JHW said:
A flight without running over any sheep on the landing = no complaints from me. More than i can say for the guy down the road with his cessna 182 sheep shearer. And no, like you I don't write flights in a logbook. That's a bit like writing it down every time you drive to the grocery store.
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Sheepsmasher? I need to fly down there. Sounds like fun, I like sheepskin, wool, and veal.
 
Every now and then I'll fly a 182 for the skydive operation here. I think we get $12.50 per Hobbs hour and $3 to sit around. I honestly do it more to stay current in single engines than for the money but in order for me to want to drive down there it can't be frigid cold and one jump run. The guys are fun but it just isn't worth it. There's a fair amount of people wanting hours that I don't need so I usually let them take most of the weekends.
 
NBAA has a salary survey that is published once a year. It's based on real world operator data and has quite a few variables to help determine salary ie; location, time in service, company size etc.. Search around on google and you can usually find last years report. I personally think the pro-pilot survey is fairly inaccurate with less variables figured into their report. If you are just getting your career started I would recommend taking whatever they are going to pay you, especially if it's a safe op with good management.

Tristar said:
Hey guys,

I'd like to ask this as delicately as possible since I know money is a touchy subject (sort of like asking a woman her weight!) What do you see as a typical salary for a King Air SIC/PIC? I'm curious more than anything where I rate but I have to consider other things like benifits and an additional paid-for rating in the mustang that weigh in to the equation. Most responses I've found to this are either not published or written years ago.

Thanks!
Click to expand...
 
Ted DuPuis said:
Sheepsmasher? I need to fly down there. Sounds like fun, I like sheepskin, wool, and veal.
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Yeah, I've heard you like sheep.




:D

So the sheep are scared in Oz for lots of reasons it seems.
 
As I recall in NZ, there are 45 million sheep for 3 million people. So, each person has 15 sheep on average.
 
I know a local company hiring PIC's for KA350's. They pay your type w/ one year contract. $30K salary, basically zero days off, just days you are on call vs. scheduled. 24X7X365 operation. Lots of flying time though.
 
Alexb2000 said:
I know a local company hiring PIC's for KA350's. They pay your type w/ one year contract. $30K salary, basically zero days off, just days you are on call vs. scheduled. 24X7X365 operation. Lots of flying time though.
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Yikes, plus all the 135 rules, etc for 30k. For sure better off flying a KA or twotter for a DZ for that pay.
 
Tristar said:
Gucci, I forget the name of the company but I have heard of some places that you do. Most companies like mine have you sign contracts for PICs so that if they train you and you leave, by contract, you are required to pay some or all of it back. It only takes one guy to pull that on a company for them to decide on contracts for the pilots.
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Are you signing a contract to stick around so they get a return on the training investment or paying for the rating yourself?
 
Alexb2000 said:
I know a local company hiring PIC's for KA350's. They pay your type w/ one year contract. $30K salary, basically zero days off, just days you are on call vs. scheduled. 24X7X365 operation. Lots of flying time though.
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wow that sucks. They actually get pilots to sign up for that gig?
 
Tarheelpilot said:
wow that sucks. They actually get pilots to sign up for that gig?
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My friend who worked there said is was a whip. No drinking ever because you might have to fly. Can't even go to the gym or out to eat unless it is close to the airport. There is a 45 min call out. No way to plan something next Sunday, unless it is an almost never happens scheduled day off. That said, I've been PM'ed by people just off this post looking for a KA job. My buddy who did the KA job is now flying right seat commuter for two thirds the pay I listed with 6K hours of turbine PIC. Tough times in the pilot world.
 
No thanks James. I can get similar pay for a better lifestyle right here. They let us have our weekends with the option to take trips if called. Plus, under part 135, it's illegal to be required to be available 365. We are required 13 days off per 3 months. There are bright sides to 135.

Tarheel, I'm not a captain yet but from what I understand the PICs from a company sign one year contracts to offset "pay your dues" for Flight Safety's costs. SICs do not go to Flight safety and instead are trained and tested locally. If you decide to leave early, it's pro rated depending on how much of the year is left. The only thing I don't get yet is if someone decides to leave and they are signing contracts every year how they actually leave without paying for anything and also staying current in the planes. Many companies do this, Key Lime comes to mind.
 
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Tristar said:
No thanks James. I can get same pay for a better lifestyle right here. They let us have our weekends with the option to take trips if called. Plus, under part 135, it's illegal to be required to be available 365. We are required 13 days off per 3 months. There are bright sides to 135.

Tarheel, I'm not a captain yet but from what I understand the PICs from a company sign one year contracts to offset "pay your dues" for Flight Safety's costs. If you decide to leave early, it's pro rated depending on how much of the year is left. The only thing I don't get yet is if someone decides to leave and they are signing contracts every year how they actually leave without paying for anything and also staying current in the planes. Many companies do this, Key Lime comes to mind.
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I hear ya, I'm 135 now, one week on one off, but for check rides every 6mo, all the paperwork etc, you'd need to pay me over 60k, for 30 a DZ is where it is at, more or less below the radar, fun folks and way less paperwork.

To each their own
 
Tarheelpilot said:
wow that sucks. They actually get pilots to sign up for that gig?
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If someone wants a lot of time in type that's not that bad. Sure you don't have a lot of people asking for it, but it's not unheard of.
 
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