The U.S. Airline Pilots Who Barely Make Minimum Wage

You really have to love what you do, or be exceedingly patient, to consider becoming a regional airline pilot. Aviation consultant Kit Darby says regional airline co-pilots and pilots, in the lower ranks, at least, don't make a living wage. In fact, the mechanic at your local gas station, or even the taxi driver who drives along the streets of your town, sometimes taking trips of a longer duration than regional flights, may be pulling down more cash per hour than the bottom rungs of first officers, i.e. co-pilots, at regional airlines. Most view their service on regional airlines as an apprenticeship or stepping-stone to a big payday at mainline airlines. The exception is the top ranks of the regional airline pilots, where captains with 15 years' experience can earn $100,000 to $110,000 per year, Darby says. Co-pilots may earn less than $20 per hour flying turboprops for Mesa Airlines,  and pilots with 10 years' experience make a little more than $73 per hour, on average