Do airline pilots make more than cargo?

It is often true that many pilots flying passenger aircraft are paid better than their counterparts at cargo airlines (of course, it depends on the case). The main reason is that airline and cargo airline pilots have slightly different roles and work responsibilities.



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Cargo carriers are airlines and for the larger ones the requirements are the same as any Major passenger carrier (in some cases they can be even greater). The pay is not necessarily better but comparable again depending on the carrier. The main pro is boxes don't complain, don't get drunk and rowdy and don't get sick.

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While ZipRecruiter is seeing annual salaries as high as $160,000 and as low as $46,500, the majority of Cargo Pilot salaries currently range between $83,500 (25th percentile) to $105,500 (75th percentile) with top earners (90th percentile) making $120,000 annually across the United States.

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Traditionally a pilot at a regional airline might start out earning less than $50,000 per year, but get hired on by a major airline and that goes up quickly into the six figures, and well over $300,000 for senior captains flying widebody aircraft overseas. Some earn over $400,000.

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It might seem obvious, but many of you ask about this: yes, the pilots prepare their own coffee and meals. Just behind the flight deck, we have a galley, containing several catering boxes with plenty of food, drinks and snacks, an oven and a coffee maker.

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Not too many people are aware that pilots in the U.S. must retire at age 65, due to federal regulations. That may be set to change, however, if a just-passed bill succeeds in becoming law.

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Emirates, Qatar Airways, Etihad Airways, and Singapore Airlines are commercial airlines that pay the highest pilot salaries.

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In the May 2021 report, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports the range of salaries for airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers from less than $100,110 a year, to the highest 10 percent earning more than $208,000.

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The airline transport pilot (ATP) is the most advanced pilot certificate one can obtain, and it's necessary for those who want to fly commercial airliners for a living. All commercial airlines now require a pilot applicant to have an ATP certificate.

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United Airlines pilots approved a new four-year contract that is the costliest ever at a U.S. carrier, providing a cumulative increase in total compensation of as much as 40.2% over the life of the agreement.

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start out about $100,000 a year. The top in typical around 4 or $500,000 a year. Now, for the select few. major airline pilots that make almost 7 figures a year.

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According to figures from The United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median salary for airline pilots is $114,200, but starting pay for a regional airline First Officer could be as little as $28,000, while ending pay for a major airline Captain could be several hundred thousand per year.

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