Airline Pilot Pay Transparency - 777 First Officer
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- Опубликовано: 11 янв 2025
- I am very fortunate to get to do what I do. Full breakdown of hours flown, hotel nights and money earned for 2024.
***Premium Incentive Pay is working on a designated important day...Holiday or days adjacent to a holiday
2:07 Hours Flown Last Year
3:26 Nights in Hotels
4:59 Annual Pay Gross
7:07 Pay breakdown
13:53 Deductions
14:44 Final Breakdown
15:10 Flight map and hours flown
15:55 How you can get into this career
18:09 Example of fly little but get paid a lot
19:40 Wrap up and thank you
Sorry for any typos. My spoken word is correct but there might be small typos. Like in my example at the end I earned 15 hours 45 minutes not 15 hours 14 minutes. Might hire my wife as an editor. Ha.
This channel is truly a gem. Thank you for being as transparent as you are, Darren. I hope this channel can reach the eyes of many that wish to be in a similar situation as yours in the near future.
I appreciate that!
I really wish there was someone like you when I was younger Darren. I wasted my 30s and 40s wishing and playing MSFS rather than chasing the dream. Now, after just turning 60, MSFS is how I scratch the itch.
Dont wait, people!!!
Just described me. Although still in my 40’s, I made out very well with a lucrative IT career. I wish I could go back in time and chase my dream, but it all worked out. Funny thing is, I now work in Cloud Computing. 🤣🤣.
While it may have never worked out, MSFS has improved so much especially with VR and VATSIM, you could technically make a career out of being a RUclips pilot. If you’re retired and have the time, chase your dream brother. Even if it’s on a virtual flight sim. Mentor pilot quit his job as an airline pilot just to do videos.
Darren. I love your absolutely authentic personality. You don’t have a god complex like some pilots. Maybe that is your maturity showing. Keep the videos coming. Thanks for sharing your private financials with us. I wish I was young enough to do it over. For the audiences information my life choices have afforded me the opportunity to make less than half of what Darren does and I have to work in excess of 2000 hours per year to earn it. I’m not complaining because I’m well compensated and love what I do, I just would have been happier doing what Darren does.
Darren, I have a wonderful friend that works for Delta and he is an inspiration for my life changing and wanting a career change. Watching your video's just amplifies all of my desires for the aviation world. Thank you so much for all the info and I felt like you were talking to me when you were talking about the cost of school and the grants that are out there. Will definitely be taking a look! Just did my discovery flight and looking foward to many more hours in the sky! Keep up the great videos!! I look forward to the next one before you even release it :)
Thank you for the kind words. Taking the discovery flight is a huge first step. You got this. Reach out anytime.
Congratulations on hitting 15K subscribers!!!
My little brother put me onto your channel and I’m so glad he did.
Inspirational stuff. Really appreciate the transparency and full picture on work life balance in your videos and when you explain certain technical aspects, not just pay potential (though I’m based across the pond: London) i’m taking notes! Thank you so much. 🙏🏾
Greetings from Tulsa, thanks for all the work you put in these videos to inform us. I hope you have a good year again!!
Appreciate you!
great insight Darren. The last sentences encouraged me even more. Hope your 2025 is even better!
Thank you. Happy new year. Reach out anytime.
Great video, Darren. Very informative as always! You are a real credit to the industry!
I work, not as a pilot, but for an airline (not Kirkland) because of aviation content creators. You are my favorite. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you for doing this.
I'm glad you like the content. Thanks for watching!
Thank you, Darren. Your willingness to share so much of your career is an inspiration. Income is a very personal subject but your genuine heart behind sharing it is felt. Thank you for going over all these details and what comes from where. This greatly helps those of us who are aspiring to join the industry.
Absolute amazing video. As I transition to a major, I appreciate the detailed breakdown and transparency! Great clarification about the organizations to get the funds necessary to fly!
Good stuff brother!! Glad you mentioned about the other affinity aviation organization. we all love to support EVERYONE regardless of your background. We’re all in this together!!
I have been wishing for this video and was actually going to ask you on one of your lives. Thank you so much for creating a break down. This has helped me so much to have a better understanding!!
You’re very welcome. Glad it was helpful.
You’re very welcome. Glad it was helpful.
This is amazing and give us a great insight for upcoming aspiring pilots. Many are always hesitant to share these type of figures. Goes to show the sacrifices in the beginning may seem hard but with perseverance and a positive attitude can get it done.
Darren u are the truth.. I have been fight with self on Starting Aircraft mechanic program trying to get A&P certificate, but this is the video I needed. I have plans in future to get my ppl and some other ratings and 737 type rating.. thanks you god speed..
Thanks for the excellent year end summary video. Greatly appreciated.
Thanks for watching!
Love your videos Darren, sadly we can’t quite earn the same here in the UK. But your videos are encouraging nonetheless. Been toying with going into this career for about a decade now!
Nice video, Darren! I just retired from a 40 year career as a Corporate Pilot, and have not regretted a single minute. Generational wealth is right. Well-planned and executed, our careers can be life-changing. Have you done a video on how this is, or at least can be affected by living in-base vs. commuting? I mean, the ability to pick up trips can make such a difference over a 20+ year career, to say nothing of the expense and stress avoided.
This is one of the best breakdown videos I have seen!!! Thank you for using your time to help people get an insight on aviation. Do you think you can do a video with an aircraft Technician breakdown like this one??
Glad you enjoyed it! I don't know any technicians well enough to get that data.
@@geekontheflightdeck ok thank you
Great video, I love the transparency. A lot of time people will not go after something because of the unknown. Hopefully your videos will give enough insight to motivate someone to go after their dream or keep pushing forward when times get tough.
Great video! Very informative!
Another great video. Thank you and all the best…
Thanks Darren, for the information you gave us or me. I hope you have a great career ahead and I look forward to hearing from you soon take care
I have enjoyed your videos. I was a CFII back in the day. I signed off your former union president for his private. Ken
You are the best .I love your content.
I love your videos. Very informative and transparent as you mentioned. I'm going to give my 16 year old some of this information. See if it sparks some interest. Keep up the solid work. Thank you
I subscribed after watching.. thank you for sharing
Darren, you my brother are a gentleman and scholar. First, thank you for this excellent video. I absolutely understand the pay scale and the ins and outs now.😉
I will tell you that I'm several yrs away from being 70, Canadian Black born and raised, married to my wife for decades who is Canadian white so things with us are similar on some levels.The things you spoke of at he end of your video are some of the things that keep me watching you young man!!✈✈
Thank you. I do my best to tell it like it is. I am just a guy that happens to fly airplanes and can kinda edit videos.
Your doing just fine my friend.
He started as an airline pilot 17 years ago at a regional and there for 10 years. That may have put him the days of or near the end of the starvation wages for regional pilots. Not uncommon for $20 or so per flight hour. jr first officers and captains didn't get rich either. The younger new pilots today don't have to starve.
Liked the video! Thanks for sharing this with us! Best wishes from Argentina, i hope to get to the airlines soon, i'm currently working to get my CPL, it's very hard to get a job in this country but i'll try, i want to convert all my rating to the US in the future
I just left Buenos Aires last night. Beautiful country. Long flight.
❤Your Channel❤ + I picked the wrong profession 😭😭😭Thanks for the great info + video!
I love these videos. Keep doing them please.
Great video! Very inspirational!
Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it.
Why doesn’t AA have a inflight channel like UA that enables customers to hear live ATC conversation with their flight
That’s outside my wheelhouse. You’d have to ask that airline.
Great video Darren just one question what Madden NFL was the best 😊
Airline crews may fly 650 hours a year but spend a lot more hours not on the clock getting paid. Flight check in/paperwork time, waiting for planes, delays, away from home time. Not like having a set 15 hour work week while at home every day. Having said that I would rather those terms than stuck at a desk full time or more to get paid.
Office workers spend time answering emails off the clock as well and extended work days unpaid (salary employees). It is what it is. Not saying my career is for everyone. I feel I have more time with my family than many. I work 3 days a week on average. I send them to school day one, FaceTime on day 2 and eat dinner with them on day 3.
The Premium Incentive Pay is what they called the Holiday Pay for some reason.
Hi Darren, another great video with payment transparency that is rarely found here in Europe. I just have one question, do you think that its possible to become a pilot in the US as a german? My current plan aims for two german flight schools but overall the carreer chances I feel like are higher in the US. And not to forget the elephant in the room, the payceck is something else as well making it possible to support my family at home (at least a few years into the carreer). Im sure it won't be easy, but do you have any experience in this or heard about any similar story?
Other than that I wish you a restful weekend, even though that's mostly hard to achieve for a pilots schedule😅
I love watching the videos you are producing as an Airline pilot Darren. I can only dream of such a great life! I started flying at 19 then at 28, I developed "white coat syndrome" which I could see would prevent me from being hired at a major airline. I had to abandon my dreams of being an airline pilot, as I could not see flying fish and freight for a mom and pop air taxi company on welfare wages. Do you carry loss of license insurance or does your company provide it?
...and just think, there's guys and gals out there crushing it even more than him!
I am very thankful for you posting this. I want to become a commercial airline pilot and money for school is the biggest factor in taking the leap towards that goal and it’s great seeing that it can more than pay for itself eventually.
However, let me throw you a curveball. Do you, or anyone else, know of any grants that could be available for someone studying in Mexico? I am a Mexican citizen and am considering studying over there since the flight school price gets cut in half for the PPL and CPL. I do have some relatives and friends I could beg for money but I’d like to avoid that for everyone’s sake. Back to the topic at hand. Are there any ways an airline, private organization or government program could help?
Thank you for the kind words. I don’t know of any assistance outside the United States.
Forgot to ask, RSV OVERTIME IS NOT THE SAME AT ALL THE CARRIERS?
No. What I can do here, my Delta buddies can not. What they can do there with “rolling thunder” and “green slips” I can not do here.
"very low" is 24k 😭
I have been lucky enough to get $22000 worth of scholarships for my aviation degree which I start in a week!
Freaking awesome!
He shows us the only really important thing for pilots in the airlines is the seniority number. . That is why it is important to get hired as quickly as possible. And why to choose correctly because you don't want to start over at the bottom at a new carrier after years invested. One downside of seniority system is prior experience doesn't count. Triple 7 captain one day and new 737 first officer on probation the next at a different carrier.
Hey Darren just a quick question, in one of your earlier vids you mentioned how some pilots have other jobs aka side gigs in addition to their airline flying jobs. Wouldn’t it make sense for them to say, fly alternating months? For example month of January would be with the airline, then the month of February would be all to themselves focusing on their “side gig”.
Awesome info
Thanks!
So what you are saying being a commercial pilot is good pay
After a lot of hard work and cheek rides it is a great career
Very nice video. Pilots stay in hotels way less than i thought. As a traveling musician its pretty common to stay at the same hotel for 1-2 weeks at a time. Can make gold status without any credit card points tho. LOL
Wow amazing video… are all these numbers as a FO? Or Pilot?
All the numbers are for a First Officer.
I’m deff not going to college flight school it is for me
Thanks so much for sharing as I, cpl pilot working on cfi helps a lot.
I would really like to match these numbers in the future however I really want to live in tampa. I know frontier has a base there but just dont know if i could make what you make at a legacy. Also did you get any additional money from profit sharing?
Very unlikely profit sharing will mean anything
It's scary how much you pay for insurances. It blows my european mind
I'm a student pilot, Thank you for your transparency. Subscribe bottom here i come
Happy weekend everyone
Great video man. Are You a captain? How long have you been a pilot I’m thinking of it?
Just read 17 years lol but still..
Now I know why I can't afford to buy a plane ticket and go on vacation :(
What is the difficulty in transferring from flying an Airbus plane to a Boeing? Is it hard? Do you just go and practice in a simulator?
It’s still a plane. Different logic but still an airplane. I got a full training course
European pilot salaries are a joke compared to US. Same airplanes, similar routes, congested airports. Without mentioning the pathetic European airlines that make you pay your own type rating. Madness.
First excellent content. I think financial transparency in corporate America would create better accountability and outcomes.
Second, i make about the same but its much much less complicated. Do pilots have a backchannel network where you help eachother get the biggest $$
There are multiple groups large and small on how to maximize income and minimize work. Some are complicated and sketchy most are just using the contract correctly.
Love it.
Weren’t you the guy who used to talk mad smack on Boeing on TikTok 🤨
Yeah. So...... Ha
@ 😂😂
I'm surprised the Allied Pilots Association pilots' union at American allows detailed public disclosures of rates. Makes it harder for the union to cry poverty and overworked every time it wants a raise and less work.
Every pilot union I know of has public pay rates.
Does the 100 hr flight limit count only actual flight hours?
Correct. Time in the flight deck. Deadheading doesn’t count. Hours paid do not count either.
Time as a pilot as operating crew. Not time in flight deck.
So does time spent resting in the crew bunk count?
Yep if I'm on working crew
Do you have a big tax bill that you have to pay in April? It seems like your federal income tax is on the low side for that salary. Then again, I’m no tax accountant. Just curious. I appreciate the transparency!
I owe but have a good chunk of deductions as well. I made home energy improvements last year that are 30% tax credits.
Just a question: Your 401k is on top of your net pay or it is already included. in it? Thanks!
@octaviocampos6960 the 401K company contribution of $46k is additional. I did not include it in my total income.
Did you have RUclips income too? for transparency of course. 😊
Approximately $4200 for the full 2024 year.
not bad, love your stuff buddy. Keep it up. Great channel, it's just a shame we don't get more inflight videos, but if the airline doesn't approve then you can't I suppose. @geekontheflightdeck@@geekontheflightdeck
I'm waiting for pilot unions to demand work from home for the pilots. Fly the plane from home then no need for hotels. Military guys fly their equipment all over the world and they have to find targets and shoot. In UK they don't even put controllers in some airport towers since they work remotely. Not from home yet though.
The flying public won't go for single pilot large jet flights in my lifetime. Much less autonomous flights. Military and passenger flying are very different.
Hey Darren just a quick question, in one of your earlier vids you mentioned how some pilots have other jobs aka side gigs in addition to their airline flying jobs. Wouldn’t it make sense for them to say, fly alternating months? For example month of January would be with the airline, then the month of February would be all to themselves focusing on their “side gig”.
It is near impossible to get a full month off guaranteed without using sick time.