If you’ve ever stared out the airplane window wondering what the pilot up front is getting paid to fly you across the country, buckle up, because the answer might shake your in-flight snacks.
Garrett Ray, a commercial first officer (aka co-pilot) flying out of New York, has gone viral for revealing just how much he earns on the job. And let’s just say, it’s enough to make you consider swapping your office cubicle for a cockpit.
Ray, who documents his flying life on YouTube, recently shared that he rakes in $213.97 an hour. Yes, per hour. That’s not a typo. But before you start practicing your “this is your captain speaking” voice in the mirror, there’s a catch (and it’s a big one).
While $213 an hour sounds like dream money, being a pilot isn’t exactly a smooth ride. There are long hours, unpredictable schedules, and sometimes entire days spent waiting around. And no, you don’t get paid to sit in a hotel room eating room service.
One of Ray’s favorite flights is from JFK to Phoenix, but it comes with a 24-hour layover before he can fly back. So while he’s technically “on the clock,” he only gets paid for the actual flight time (around 10 hours) despite being away from home for nearly 40.
“It’s not always the best bang for your buck,” Ray admitted, per the New York Post. Fair point.
To maximize his time (and his paycheck), Ray focuses on strategic routes. Recently, he shared a flight where he “deadheaded” (industry speak for flying as a passenger to his next assignment) from LaGuardia (LGA) to Dallas Fort Worth (DFW), then operated the flight back home.
Even though he only worked one leg of the trip, he still made $1,556 in just over seven hours. Not bad for a guy who also got to scroll his phone and sip coffee on the way there.
“This is a phenomenal scenario,” Ray told The Daily Mail. “Yeah, I had to get up super early, but I’m back by 3PM.” Sounds like the dream shift, honestly.
With a schedule like his, Ray averages about 80 hours of flight time a month, which adds up to around $17,000.
And if he gets promoted to captain? His hourly rate would skyrocket to $350 an hour, with a monthly paycheck soaring to over $27,000.
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So yes, the money is absolutely wild. But unless you're cool with erratic schedules, early mornings, surprise layovers, and spending most holidays 30,000 feet in the air, it’s not exactly the chill lifestyle it might seem.
Still, if you're the kind of person who likes free travel, tight uniforms, and getting paid like a tech bro without having to code, maybe the skies are calling.