just curious...Pilot/ Aviator Payscales?

[yankee]

If some of you don't mind what are some of the Pilot/aviator payscales. NAvy/Airforce, doesn't matter. I was just curious because I just saw some pay scale for a first year FO on NET JETS...something like 33K. And he had over 5k hours. And you know that he/she paid his/her dues.....but for 33k?

When I get back to Florida I'm going to get started on my flight packages for NAvy OCS, ANG etc.. I'm 27 and will be 28 in march. I have 11oott as CFI and desperately needs to fly and SERVE my Country. ANY help will be appreciataed, thank you.

 

[hobie]

Patmack have you figured an estimate of what the monthly total will be for O-1 pay including allowances and all. Are taxes done differently (federal + state)? you've got to be just about done at OCS eh? Is Vic still around? I'm the one who switched with him for the March class.

 

[Toro]

Don't know about the Navy, but there is a difference in pay for aviators - flight pay. It starts when you hit the flightline in UPT and increases as your time in service increases. I don't know exactly what the rate is, but I seem to remember it being about $150 a month when I was in UPT and after six years it's now $650. Also, any time you are deployed to a combat location you will make hazardous flight pay, which is a set rate currently of $150 a month for all ranks.

 

[MercuryPilot]

more on the pay stuff

For you future O-1s, when you get to API in Pensacola you may want to consider changing your residency to Florida.-Or you could wait until you get to Corpus Christi and change it to TX. Either way they don't have a state income tax so you can keep a little more of your pay each month. Most Naval Aviators will keep their residency in FL/TX for the duration of their careers unless they change it for a homestead exemption down the road.

Poke around on the dfas site mentioned above to find out the current flight pay. It starts the day you check into the Wing at NAS Whiting Field or NAS C.C. for primary and goes up every 2 years.

You'll also need to figure in your BAH (housing allowance dependent on zip code) and BAS (food allowance ~$166/month), both non taxable, to get a more accurate figure. If you live w/some buddies out in town you still get to keep ALL your BAH, which wasn't the case until a few years ago. Before you know it you're living very comfortably AND getting paid to learn how to fly!

Unlike out in the civilian world, you are pretty much guaranteed to get a pay raise from Congress every January and you will be promoted to O-2 at the 2 year point and O-3 at the 4 year point assuming you haven't gotten into some kind of trouble.

Overall, the money is good but the lifestyle is what makes it worth it.

Best of luck. Hope you guys join us as military pilots.

 

[Andy Neill]

http://www.dfas.mil/money/milpay/pay/01-2003.pdf

In an effort to put some hard numbers out, I used the link given above and found the following for an O-1 (2nd Lieutenant/Ensign)

Base pay: $2,183.70
BAS (food) 167.20
BAH (house) 447.60
ACIP (flight) 125.00
Total/mo $2,935.50 or $35,226 per year

For a captain (at about 4 years of service with dependents) those figures would be
Base pay $3,883.50
BAS 167.20
BAH 795.00
ACIP 206.00
Total $5,051.70 or $60,620.40 annually.

ACIP goes over $600 after 6 and peaks at $840 after 14.

Upward adjustments would be made for housing with dependents, more housing for higher cost of living areas, temporary duty, hazardous duty, family separation, etc.

Downward adjustments would be made if housing or meals were provided to you in kind.

 

[RichO]

Don't forget to add in any tax-free months....Anytime you fly into one of the combat zones around the world you get tax free for that month....pretty good deal.....of course your living in a tent over the holidays, and away from your family eating chow hall food.......Though, depending on what you fly, you might get an occasional good deal, 3 months to a pretty decent location and upwards of $60 a day in perdiem......but it all depends on what you fly.....

 

[Abe_Froman]

Re: more on the pay stuff

For you future O-1s, when you get to API in Pensacola you may want to consider changing your residency to Florida.-Or you could wait until you get to Corpus Christi and change it to TX. Either way they don't have a state income tax so you can keep a little more of your pay each month. Most Naval Aviators will keep their residency in FL/TX for the duration of their careers unless they change it for a homestead exemption down the road.

Minor point: Some states (California being one of them) have a special case where you can claim exemption from their state taxes on your miltary income. Ask your local finance rep about this form. You don't have to change your residency to TX or FL if you're from a state that approves of this.

 

[hobie]

thanks for the tips, for a military illiterate like myself it's hard to know what applies on those pay charts. As long as I'm from a state that doesn't have income tax (Washington), sounds like I'm O.K. Any other benefits to getting FL or TX residency?

 

[chawbein]

Getting Texas residency means you are a resident of the best state in the Union!

 

[MercuryPilot]

Hobie,
You'd probably have to do some digging but I've heard that some states have a few perks for military personnel who retire as residents of their states. About 8 years ago I saw a book that had that kind of information in a Navy personnel office.