Using airline industry salary tools to learn more about salaries in the airline industry can be deceiving. That's because there are so many diverse jobs within this industry, from high-paying pilot jobs to low-paying baggage handler positions and everything in between. That's why you should look further than the average aviation pay scale tools.

Aviation salaries may be the most misunderstood part of the airline industry. Some airline employee salaries are based on seniority and longevity, while others are based on experience and education. Before you use airline salary tools, remember:

1. There are a wide variety of airline industry pay scales with widely varying pay.

2. You don't have to work for an airline to earn an aviation salary.

3. Consider the future of airline industry salaries when you look at an aviation career tool.

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Look for specific airline salary jobs when thinking about your aviation career

Everyone seems to think about flight attendants and pilots when they think of airline jobs, but there are hundreds of behind-the-scenes jobs that also pay decently and get your foot in the door to the airline industry. Seek out specialized aviation salary tools in these niche jobs if you want to work in the aviation industry.

I recommend: CBsalary.com offers Airline Customer Service Agent salary calculators, and you can calculate other airline salaries, combined with local salary cost of living calculators, as well. SimplyHired offers an average national airline industry compensation, then you can choose your aviation specialty and see what it pays. The CollegeGrad.com Salary Wizard allows you to choose your career and experience to discover what your salary will be.

Look to other industries in the aviation field if you want aviation pay without an airline job

If you're worried about the stability of the airline industry, look for a job in the aviation industry but outside the airline industry. You can work for the government, private industry, or aviation maintenance and technology, and still have your hands in the aviation business, without some of the turmoil of the ups and downs of airline pay.

I recommend: The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) offers a variety of jobs in the aviation industry, from air traffic controllers to accident investigators and beyond. Their pay, benefits, and training tools gives information on what you need to work or train for these jobs. Indeed.com offers airline mechanic pay scales with the number of jobs offered in each category.

Research what's in store for airline industry pay for the future

Use salary tools and surveys to find the right aviation career for you - and what you can expect from that career in the future. Listen to the voice of experience before you jump into the jump seat, and you'll discover that there are a huge variety of aviation careers that offer stability, good pay, great working conditions, and good benefits, you just have to work to ferret them out.

I recommend: Sporty's Pilot Shop offers a comprehensive U.S. Airline Salary Survey that offers information on major airlines and their salaries, including benefits and retirement information. Storming Media offers a comprehensive guide to compare career airline pilots with career Navy pilots and their earnings.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Salary tools for airline employee salaries only tell part of the story. To get an in-depth view of the airline salary hodgepodge, talk to aviation employees, and ask them what they would do 'if they had it to do over.' Study information from aviation schools, too. For making the most of airline industry salary tools, make sure to cover all your bases and think about jobs that support the aviation community, too.

Airline industry salaries can vary greatly due to several factors including job type, experience level, airline company and location. Deciphering what you’re worth can be dizzying – especially if you’re just starting out in the industry or have stayed in the same position for many years. Fortunately, there are a variety of airline salary tools available via Internet that are easy to use and typically provide accurate information on airline industry compensation.

Whether you are considering relocation, an internal job switch or are trying to break into the airline industry, finding average airline industry pay scales for your position is imperative to ensure you make the right career move. Here are tips to help you get the airline salary information you need:

1. Calculate fair airline salaries using online salary calculators.

2. Use cost of living calculators to factor location into airline industry compensation.

3. Find average aviation salaries by researching current postings on job boards.

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Find average airline pay based on your job description

Airline salary calculators can get as specific as necessary. The difference in pay between a novice pilot working for a small airline and a seasoned pilot with a major carrier is quite drastic, so fill in as many variables as you can on salary tools to get the most accurate information possible.

I recommend: PayScale provides a graph that shows median airline employee salaries for such positions as flight attendant, chief pilot and project engineer. You can also find out what you’re worth based on job location and other variables on this website. Use Salary.com’s Salary Wizard to find a salary range for your given field in the airline industry. Avjobs.com provides a list of airline industry salaries, noting minimum, average and maximum pay.

Determine fair airline pay based on your area's cost of living

Location, location, location. It's the biggest factor in real esate, but it also plays a major part in job compensation too. If you're considering a job relocation or just searching for aviation jobs throughout the country in general, use cost of living calculators to help you find median airline salaries.

I recommend: AirlineCareer.com and Bankrate have cost of living calculators to help you figure out what you should make in one city versus another.

Use job boards for researching airline industry salaries

Relying on calculators and other salary tools is one route, but you can also conduct your own research to find average airline industry pay. Take a look at the salaries listed with aviation job postings in your area to figure out the going rate.

I recommend: Industry-specific job boards, such as AviaNation, are good places to find airline salaries. New jobs are locked from non-members for 13 days, but if the search is strictly for information gathering, just view older posts. Industry-wide job boards, like AOL Jobs, are another great resource. This site lets you search for airline jobs based on type. Research all postings that fit in your job description for a few weeks to come up with an average aviation pay scale.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Airline salary tools are a great way to choose a career path. As you're researching aviation salaries, use the information you've gathered to set realistic goals for yourself. Reevaluate those goals every couple of years to make sure you stay on track.

Advice and ratings will help you determine the best systems for reviewing airline industry salary tools. Consider various software options covered in industry magazines or review case studies to learn which systems work and why.

As you investigate, keep in mind that many advice and ratings sources provide the information as part of a broad industry overview, which means they may not focus on the best salary tools for your needs. Start your investigation by searching through these channels:

1. Get advice on airline industry salaries and tools from companies that support the airline industry.

2. Read success stories, case studies, reports or customer reviews to determine the best tools.

3. Use airline salary tools to determine the best aviation career path.

Action Steps
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Utilize professional sources for advice on airline industry salary tools

Running a large airport requires software that handles a variety of services from payroll to cargo loading. Check with companies that review software for the airline industry before you choose programs for salary tools advice and ratings.

I recommend: COA Solutions specializes in the airline sector, examining payroll and other software systems. Scan the list of case studies or type "airline payroll solutions" into the search window for specific links. Copybook Solutions offers information on airports, and reviews airport revenue software.

Turn to software providers and reporting companies for airline industry compensation guides

The airline industry relies on software vendors for the solutions needed to run an airport. Many of these vendors offer advice detailing how their products work, usually through case studies or client testimonials. Check industry trade magazines for references to specific airline software vendors.

I recommend: Visit IBS to see how the right airline industry tools, including those for managing salaries, can serve your needs. Scroll down and click on the case study to learn more, or register for the free e-newsletter. Aviation Today reports on major developments in the industry and includes information on airlines working with software companies for services from accounting to credit card fraud.

Look at airline industry pay scales to determine wages

An airline industry salary guideline can help you choose the best career path in aviation. These tools usually rank jobs based on the average salary for the position.

I recommend: Avjobs ranks airline salaries for comparable positions, showing the average wage and the maximum wage. PayScale uses a bar chart to show airline industry average salaries for key positions, and offers additional information sources .

The airline industry negotiates contracts with unions who represent pilots, flight attendants and other workers. These negotiations define a whole host of terms that affect the salary tools a worker in the industry might be trying to understand. Take the time to learn some of these airline industry salary tools key terms so that you'll be able to properly understand the language as it is negotiated in upcoming contracts. Here are some of those terms along with some helpful resources to help get you started.

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Dues

Dues refer to an amount of money most airline employees must pay to their union for representation. This money is usually deducted monthly. The union negotiates an overall contract with the airline in return for their monthly payment.

I recommend: Visit the website for the United Airlines Association of Flight Attendants for an explanation of the responsibility of dues according to a charter.

Salary continuance

A salary continuance refers to the continuation of an airline employee's salary after he or she has been laid off. Sick time and vacation time may also accrue during this period. If and when the airline re-hires that employee, sick time and vacation time may be re-granted if they were not used to supplement income at the end of the salary continuance.

I recommend: Visit the American Flight Attendant's Union associated with US Airways for a further discussion of salary continuance and how it operates.

Base pay

Base pay refers to the amount of pay given to an airline employee before bonuses, overtime or other monetary perks. Base pay usually increases each year that an employee works for an airline.

I recommend: Visit the website for Northwest Airlines Association of Flight Attendants for an explanation of how base pay operates.

Monthly minimum guarantee

The monthly minimum guarantee relates to the amount of hours a flight attendant or crew member is guaranteed to work. Other aspects like minimum accrual of vacation time, sick time and pension qualifications are often factored into the monthly guarantee.

I recommend: Visit the website for AFA Council 66 for additional information on what a monthly minimum guarantee entails.

Deadhead pay

Deadhead pay refers to money earned when the airline requires the crew member to travel on a flight they are not working on. This is often done so that a flight attendant can work a flight in another city. Compensation is usually about half of the normal hourly wage.

I recommend: Visit the website of Air Wisconsin MEC Association of Flight Attendants for a further explanation of deadhead pay.

Furlough

Furlough, in relation to the airline industry, refers to a forced leave of absence. This is usually done when an airline is experiencing financial difficulty. Furloughs may be short and sporadic, meaning they occur once a month, or they can be several months long. The airline usually hopes to end someone's furlough and return them to work when finances improve.

I recommend: Visit Airline Pilot Central for an additional discussion about furloughs.