Beaver Driver Salaries
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floatingbeaver
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Beaver Driver Salaries
Hi there fellas new to the site and have been reading over the threads with much interest. I know this is probably a already beaten subject but am in the renegotiating phase for this seasons beaver salary. Typical May to October 550 to 600 hrs. Any suggestions or expectations would be great!
Hey gmb.. since I'm the one raising all the hoopla about wages I guess it's incumbant upon me to respond somehow.
First thing that comes to mind is to ask how long have you been with the company and what have they been paying you until now and do you feel like it has been in line with your level of experience?
If you read through the threads, there are countless references to Beaver Driver salaries.
Obviously I have my own thoughts on the subject but before saying too much more, will have to know a bit about you. Are you a first year Beaver pilot, or do you have several thousand hours on type, or somewhere in between?
First thing that comes to mind is to ask how long have you been with the company and what have they been paying you until now and do you feel like it has been in line with your level of experience?
If you read through the threads, there are countless references to Beaver Driver salaries.
Obviously I have my own thoughts on the subject but before saying too much more, will have to know a bit about you. Are you a first year Beaver pilot, or do you have several thousand hours on type, or somewhere in between?
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Driving Rain
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Last time I flew a beaver in the late 70's I got $1200/mo and .12c per mile. I averaged about 10,000 miles a month for a 5 month season some months were better and some months worse.
How's that compare with the pay 25+ years later? That was top pay at the time in NWO area.
Used to do shoulder season trips for a straight .25c/mile. Should be a lot better than that today.
How's that compare with the pay 25+ years later? That was top pay at the time in NWO area.
Used to do shoulder season trips for a straight .25c/mile. Should be a lot better than that today.
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floatingbeaver
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beaver salaries floatman and drivingrain
Hi guys thanks for the replys. to answer your question floatman, this is my third season and also third on the beaver. I have 3000 hours of which about 1600 are on floats. last years salary was 500 a week gross which I feel is very low which is why I will be renegotiating before this season. And thanks for your reply driving rain, not much of an increase since the 70s here in my camp. I don't get any mileage pay and we charter our beavers at $4.60 a mile which I think is pretty standard. Thanks guys
gmb:
I am inclined to think that this is a joke. If in fact you have been paid $2K per month to fly a Beaver 550-600 hours per season for three years, you need to get out more. That's closer to dockhand pay.
In fact, do us all a favor. Go back to your employer, slap his fat face for raping you for three seasons, then go out and get yourself a real job.
With that sort of time, if you are not making $4K per month, you are getting hosed IMHO.
I am inclined to think that this is a joke. If in fact you have been paid $2K per month to fly a Beaver 550-600 hours per season for three years, you need to get out more. That's closer to dockhand pay.
In fact, do us all a favor. Go back to your employer, slap his fat face for raping you for three seasons, then go out and get yourself a real job.
With that sort of time, if you are not making $4K per month, you are getting hosed IMHO.
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what do I put here???
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WOW, 2 k a month for a Beaver. Two years ago I got on a 185 for a 3 month run and that's what I started at. But I only had 1100TT and 250 float. Next season bigger a/c and 3K. I'm not doing a 3rd but got offered 3500 a month for same a/c DHC-2. If it were me no less than $3500 but go for 4k. Fly Safe and good luck getting them to open their pockets.
yeah i'd say 4 grand would be reasonable, but the real clincher is tips. american tips. and another thing to consider is room and board. you said you were in a camp: do you have to live there? if you're covering your own living expenses then maybe something closer to 4500/month is better.
i think about my camp days all the time and all i can say now is: mmmm....bacon, mmmm.....eggs. every morning; no exceptions. life was good.
i think about my camp days all the time and all i can say now is: mmmm....bacon, mmmm.....eggs. every morning; no exceptions. life was good.
Last summer my nephew who was new to the business started on a 185 at $2800 per month and the operator provided room and board.
$2k a month for a Beaver is totally unacceptable. I like Driving Rain was making $1200 a month and 12 cents a mile in the late 70's driving a Beaver. It wasn't uncommon to do 18,000 miles a month in the busy part of the season. You do the math and tell me how far wages have advanced in the last 25 years.
You could also by a brand new Trans Am for $14,000 and a Beaver for $65,000.
$2k a month for a Beaver is totally unacceptable. I like Driving Rain was making $1200 a month and 12 cents a mile in the late 70's driving a Beaver. It wasn't uncommon to do 18,000 miles a month in the busy part of the season. You do the math and tell me how far wages have advanced in the last 25 years.
You could also by a brand new Trans Am for $14,000 and a Beaver for $65,000.
You Can Love An Airplane All You Want, But Remember, It Will Never Love You Back!
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$1.85 driver
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Last summer...dockhand (2 mos) to 185 (4 mos), no room and board provided (had to pay $400) and got paid $1500/month.
That wasn't even that bad in the area I was in.
So its all well and good to sit on the forum and criticize, but until you're back at 250TT, lookin for your first float job, knowing only a very few of your peers got one...hey, at least nobody I know worked for free...but I think that's about all you can hope for these days.
Yah I did the math, I figured out the mileage, must have been nice back in the 70's...but now the economy AND the industry have gone to shit, so we HAVEN'T A CHOICE...(no this dosn't apply to the dude who started this thread..he has a few more options). We're probably lucky we're still flying bush planes at all! Our tiny niche market where we can lie through our a$$holes to the rich Americans we're flying..."oh no way guys, that road certainly doesn't go right near the lake where you're going"
Sorry for the repetitive rant...I'm sure its heard on here so much its becoming a mantra.
...I know I'm worth wayyy more than that, but until I have enough years in this biz, I gotta keep my mouth shut and get er done. Oh, and I'm a girl. Cuts my personal job options in about half, if I'm lucky.
You better believe when I have more time and experience I'm gonna do my damndest for all the little guys and gals...and I hope you all do to.
That wasn't even that bad in the area I was in.
So its all well and good to sit on the forum and criticize, but until you're back at 250TT, lookin for your first float job, knowing only a very few of your peers got one...hey, at least nobody I know worked for free...but I think that's about all you can hope for these days.
Yah I did the math, I figured out the mileage, must have been nice back in the 70's...but now the economy AND the industry have gone to shit, so we HAVEN'T A CHOICE...(no this dosn't apply to the dude who started this thread..he has a few more options). We're probably lucky we're still flying bush planes at all! Our tiny niche market where we can lie through our a$$holes to the rich Americans we're flying..."oh no way guys, that road certainly doesn't go right near the lake where you're going"
Sorry for the repetitive rant...I'm sure its heard on here so much its becoming a mantra.
...I know I'm worth wayyy more than that, but until I have enough years in this biz, I gotta keep my mouth shut and get er done. Oh, and I'm a girl. Cuts my personal job options in about half, if I'm lucky.
You better believe when I have more time and experience I'm gonna do my damndest for all the little guys and gals...and I hope you all do to.
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Driving Rain
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Well, I see where this thread is going.
If I can offer a little advice to those seeking a raise. Lets face it the operators are the same as they were back in the 70's. Even though the mileage rate has gone up so has their expence. Like CL Guy pointed out a new car could be had for $14 grand but gas was .55c a litre and the insurance companies hadn't started to gouge. I could work for 1 hour and buy a box of beer. I still have to work for an hour to buy one.
I remember approaching my boss about a raise in pay when I was flogging a turbo 206 on EDO's in the early 70's The pilot the year before had been getting $900/month and .9c / mile and I was getting a measly $600 &.6. I went to the owner and pointed out the discrepancy and asked ever so nicely for equality. Well, long story short he fired me on the spot! The next day I got my job back but only after the ops. manager and chief pilot went to bat for me, so be careful.
The lesson I learned here.... before you ask for a raise HAVE ANOTHER JOB TO GO TO. I was lucky in that respect. We had 3 operaters in the area I lived and they all had offered me employment. Having an out is the only way to get a raise in this business when we are all treated like boy scouts or girl guides.
If I can offer a little advice to those seeking a raise. Lets face it the operators are the same as they were back in the 70's. Even though the mileage rate has gone up so has their expence. Like CL Guy pointed out a new car could be had for $14 grand but gas was .55c a litre and the insurance companies hadn't started to gouge. I could work for 1 hour and buy a box of beer. I still have to work for an hour to buy one.
I remember approaching my boss about a raise in pay when I was flogging a turbo 206 on EDO's in the early 70's The pilot the year before had been getting $900/month and .9c / mile and I was getting a measly $600 &.6. I went to the owner and pointed out the discrepancy and asked ever so nicely for equality. Well, long story short he fired me on the spot! The next day I got my job back but only after the ops. manager and chief pilot went to bat for me, so be careful.
The lesson I learned here.... before you ask for a raise HAVE ANOTHER JOB TO GO TO. I was lucky in that respect. We had 3 operaters in the area I lived and they all had offered me employment. Having an out is the only way to get a raise in this business when we are all treated like boy scouts or girl guides.
I figure if you have 1000 hours TT, and 500 hours on floats on type, you shouldn't work for less than $150 a day.
If you have 1500 hours TT, 1000 hours on floats on type, no less than $200 a day.
My first float job was in a 185 with 650 TT, 20 on floats, and I was still getting $2500 a month, plus per diems when away from base.
'Pilotgmb', you are getting raped and bringing down the entire industry standard. Time to stand up for yourself. You deserve at least $200 a day, with room and board thrown in to boot for having taken it up the hoop the last few seasons.
Otherwise, with your time, you have lots of other options.
Good luck. Let us know how it works out for you.
If you have 1500 hours TT, 1000 hours on floats on type, no less than $200 a day.
My first float job was in a 185 with 650 TT, 20 on floats, and I was still getting $2500 a month, plus per diems when away from base.
'Pilotgmb', you are getting raped and bringing down the entire industry standard. Time to stand up for yourself. You deserve at least $200 a day, with room and board thrown in to boot for having taken it up the hoop the last few seasons.
Otherwise, with your time, you have lots of other options.
Good luck. Let us know how it works out for you.
All good points made.
I am with red003, for an experienced Beaver pilot with no room or board, $4500/ month is fair. Room and/or board $4000 is sufficient, provided you are being paid to fly, and not dig septic beds and clear brush 8 hours a day when off.
And $1.85, good on ya for getting your start. Nice to see some fresh blood with some passion for the biz, and your checked out now so don't go taking $1500 this year !!
I am with red003, for an experienced Beaver pilot with no room or board, $4500/ month is fair. Room and/or board $4000 is sufficient, provided you are being paid to fly, and not dig septic beds and clear brush 8 hours a day when off.
And $1.85, good on ya for getting your start. Nice to see some fresh blood with some passion for the biz, and your checked out now so don't go taking $1500 this year !!
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lowandslow
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with the way insurance is now, $4500/month + room and board, min for an experienced beaver pilot and tell them to shove the 'off duty' work. I am not suggesting to sit on your ass all the time, but i wouldn't be digging any outhouses either. If they don't like it, move on to the next offer. there are many operators looking for experienced, seasonal, float pilots. finally, the tables have turned, so to speak, and we don't have to beg for jobs...
my two cents
my two cents
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Driving Rain
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floatingbeaver
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beaver driver salaries
Wow thanks to all you guys and gals who replied to my question on salaries now I know what to work with, and yes I knew I was getting rapped at 2000k a month. I would be happy with 4000k and do think that is reasonable with everything else I do for the company. If he says no I say see ya and my next stop will be red lake thanks all I will be in touch to let you all know the verdict.
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North Shore
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floatingbeaver
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thanks Northshore
Thanks for the correction you are right 2k a month! P.s beauty float flying you got out there, deliversd an otter to viking in the fal and had a look around, it was great
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Taxi Driver
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3000 +
I get $3000.00 a month. I work about 20 days per month and am given my own loft for free.
When I was flying the beaver, 2 years ago, we were making around 1500-2000$ base + 0.35$ a mile. Plus board and accomodation. I was doing 3 weeks on 1 off. end up around 4500 - 5500$ a month.
Remember Northern Quebec might be good, depend on the company but generally sucks.
Ontario, wage lower but you fly more, Manitoba ...., Saskatchewan and Alberta and BC very good for most of them. NWT, Yukon very good.
Good luck
Remember Northern Quebec might be good, depend on the company but generally sucks.
Ontario, wage lower but you fly more, Manitoba ...., Saskatchewan and Alberta and BC very good for most of them. NWT, Yukon very good.
Good luck
beaver wages
I make $118 per day and .28C a mile for the beaver (300 mile min) and $50 per diem plus accomodations. By the way we are still looking for beaver pilots for the short (two months) summer season.
Happy flying.
Happy flying.
