'What I make in a month': American Airlines pilot's salary stuns the internet and sparks envy

The cost of living is the only rising number in the world and each one of us seems to be grinding down every penny of our income to be able to create a life worth living. The condition has made many question their jobs and fields, pondering if there is a better opportunity out there that pays well worth the time and effort one invests.

But what dream job could that be? One where you don't have to worry about making ends meet and have enough disposable income to live in true comfort. Well, the answer does not lie in getting another degree or amping up your effort for an appraisal, but in flying planes.

Salary of an American Airlines pilot

The eyes of numerous netizens have been widened with shock over learning the salary of an American Airlines pilot in the past year. The post originally shared on Reddit, revealed the salary of a pilot who flies a Boeing 737, a captain with their base at the Miami International Airport.

They earned over $360 an hour, and $457,000 a year. Interestingly, as per legal guidelines pilots can only fly for up to 1000 hours per year, meaning that the pilot earned the whopping amount by working an average of just under 20 hours per week.

Additionally, the craziest part of it all is the fact that this pilot is not even earning as much as some others.

Netizens react to the shocking salary

The whopping annual amount brought envy and shock to the hearts of many netizens, prompting some to even consider a career change.

"Dude makes what I make in a month in a day," commented one Redditor.

"Damn is a career change at 33 into this even possible?" pondered another.

"Supply and demand works with people too. If there is a limited supply of qualified pilots, then naturally they will get paid more," stated one.

"$360/hr is craziness. I design the planes and engines you're flying and I make just over 1/5 of that with 15 years of experience and a master's degree," lamented another.

"Pilot messes up, pilot dies. ATC messes up, pilot dies. Mechanic messes up, pilot dies. Engineer messes up, pilot dies. If anything, that justifies the point even more," reasoned another Reddit user.

How much do pilots earn in general?

One Mile at a Time, a travel publication stated that the pilot would be earning 25% more if he learned to fly the larger Boeing 777, which would jump their salary to a whopping $447 per hour without the added benefits.

Pilot salaries have increased massively in the past few years, due in part to their strong unions. However, if you are dreaming of a career pivot, then make sure it's slow and steady, and along with your day job.

Gaining the experience and qualifications required to fly large planes can take years and make a hole worth $100K in your pocket to get the right certificate and time in the sky. "It can be anywhere from 9 months to 10 years depending on how much money and time you have," explained a Redditor.

"You’re looking at $100k+ for all of your certifications and ratings. A first-year FO at a regional airline is making around $150k a year, but that’s a long way away from your discovery flight."

Furthermore, the big paycheques won't be coming in right away. New pilots have to pilot smaller regional aircraft or fly freight to get the needed flight hours before they get to pilot larger and better-paying planes.