The Average Salary of Airline Employees
Every given airline in the United States employs workers in a variety of fields from pilots down to baggage claim attendants. These professionals all must work together as a cohesive unit to ensure passengers and their belongings reach destinations on time and in one piece. The average salaries of these positions can vary greatly by experience, education and even the current union collective bargaining agreement.
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Pilots and Flight Engineers
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Airline pilots and flight engineers are responsible for flying air crafts to and from airports across the country and around the world. Airline pilots typically operate passenger air crafts whereas flight engineers focus more on cargo planes. The salary of these positions annually can vary greatly depending on experience, rank and seniority. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, airline pilots and flight engineers earned an average salary between $81,580 and $150,480 in 2008.
Co-Pilots
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A co-pilot is the pilot with the least amount of experience on a particular flight. He is often referred to as the first officer. He is tasked with maintaining navigational controls, communicating with air traffic control and may share in flying duties with the captain. Co-pilots are still pilots when it comes to pay scale. These professionals earned an average median income of $111,680 in 2008.
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Flight Attendants
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All flights originating in the United States are required by law to have flight attendants on them for passenger safety. These professionals provide flight amenities for passengers and perform emergency duties in the event of an accident or unexpected landing. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, flight attendants earned an average annual income of $35,930 in 2008. Most flight attendants are members of the Flight Attendants Association, a labor union representing the interests of these professionals.
Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians
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Aircraft mechanics and technicians perform routine diagnostics on all aircraft for a particular airline, refuel planes and make repairs to air crafts as necessary. These professionals undergo extensive training to learn the intricate systems involved with keeping a plane in the sky. The Bureau of Labor Statistics states that these professionals earned an average annual income of $57,470 in 2008.
Customer Service Reps and Cargo Attendants
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Customer service representatives man the airline counters and are responsible for checking passenger bags, making flight arraignments and ensuring the correct passengers board the given flight. Cargo attendants load baggage and other packages onto each plane and transfer luggage as necessary to ensure all bags reach the right destination. Customer service rep's working for major airlines earned an average annual income of $28,600 in 2008 with cargo attendants earning $38,080 in that same year.
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References
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