How much does an airline pilot earn in Idaho?

Answer 1

Airline pilots' salary doesn't change depending on where they live, it changes depending on what company they work for - especially since 70% of all airline pilots commute to work via airplane. A pilot in Idaho who works for a Major, National, or Regional airline most likely flies to another airport in order to start work.

The website listed at the related link contains payscales for almost every airline in the United States, and below the payscale is a pay calculator to help translate the hourly wage into a yearly estimate. Due to government regulations and other restrictions, even though a newly hired First Officer makes $26/hour at Pinnacle airlines for example, that pilot will only gross about $23,400 per year BEFORE taxes, retirement contributions, health insurance, and other expenses. Pay is higher at Major airlines such as United or Delta, but the vast majority of pilots in America must first spend 3-8 years at a Regional airline like Pinnacle or Horizon before they have enough experience to apply at a Major airline. Any time a pilot changes jobs whether it is by choice or by furlough, they must start at the bottom of the company's pay scale, year 1. This is different than many other professional occupations where a worker is paid based on their career experience as opposed to their longevity with the company.