A commercial pilot’s salary is influenced by a variety of factors, the most important of which is typically seniority. Pilots with a lot of flight hours and who have worked for the same company for a long time make significantly more money than entry-level pilots. Salary is also influenced by whether a pilot is a captain or first officer, as well as other factors such as the industry in which he works, the routes he flies, and the number of hours he works per month. A commercial pilot can work in a variety of industries, each of which pays differently. The pay scale of a commercial pilot can even vary depending on the company for which he works, as different businesses within the same industry often have drastically different pay scales.
Commercial pilots are highly trained professionals who are permitted to be paid for piloting or co-piloting various types of aircraft. This type of job typically requires a Commercial Pilot’s License (CPL) or the more advanced Airline Transport Pilot License (ATP). A commercial pilot’s type rating determines which planes, helicopters, and other types of aircraft he or she is allowed to fly. Because a pilot’s license and ratings affect his job prospects, they can be important determining factors for a commercial pilot’s salary.
Seniority is the most important determining factor for salary among pilots with similar credentials and work in the same industry. Starting salaries for new commercial pilots are typically low, and they typically serve as first officers rather than captains. A captain’s starting pay can be four to eight times that of his starting pay after a significant amount of seniority has been built up. Seniority is not always synonymous with experience, as it only refers to the length of time spent with a particular company. That means that, even if a commercial pilot has many years of experience, his salary will typically suffer if he has to find work with a new company, though both factors do have an impact on pay grades.
The pay of a commercial pilot varies depending on the industry in which he works. Some industries pay significantly more than others, and some companies pay significantly more or less than others. Though there are exceptions, commercial pilots who work for passenger airlines earn less than those who work for cargo airlines. Commercial pilots are also employed by a variety of other industries, including private air charter companies and medical transport services, each of which has its own pay scale.