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Why Airline Pilots Get Paid So Little, and How it Effects the Industry
Airline pilots have an incredibly important job. They are responsible for the safety of many passengers who travel extensively. Just as a driver of a vehicle must abide by safety rules to keep the roads safe for everyone, airline pilots must do the same to ensure the safety of travelers by air. Airline pilots are responsible for everyone on their flight, including staff and passengers, as well as abiding by the rules of the air.
With this in mind, airline pilots have a great deal of responsibility. They have a variety of preflight duties to ensure the safety of the planes. Ensuring the airplane is in good working condition, being aware of weather …show more content…
The experience of the pilot, the company they are working for, and how big the flights or aircraft are all have an effect on the salary of the pilot. Smaller flights pay the least, and it is not uncommon for pilots to make around twenty thousand dollars per year working full time. When dealing with larger companies and larger flights, it is not uncommon for pilots to make anywhere between thirty and sixty thousand per year. This does not seem like a bad salary, but when considering the extra, unpaid hours a pilot is required to work, this salary ends up really not being very significant compared to the efforts.
So why do airline pilots have so much responsibility, and get compensated so little? Pilots are willing to enter the field at this low rate of pay. Many pilots have just completed school, or have some military background and wish to continue pursuing their field. Others may have a passion for traveling, and enjoy being away from home getting to see new areas.
Other pilots feel like if they can get their foot in the door with a good company and gain some experience, they can become a commercial airline pilot and make larger amounts of money in the future. As with any school, there is usually a tuition involved that must be paid back, which many pilots struggle with in their first few years in the