**Off the Record: A Pilot’s Real Pay Revealed**

Commercial pilot Garrett Ray recently shared a surprising insight into his income, and it’s turning heads. Posting on his YouTube channel, Ray revealed he earns $213.97 per hour as a first officer flying out of New York’s airports.

At first glance, it sounds like a dream salary. However, Ray cautions that being a pilot isn’t a typical 9-to-5 job. He often spends long hours waiting between flights, meaning his actual time away from home far exceeds his paid flight hours.

For example, one of Ray’s favorite routes is from JFK to Phoenix. Despite enjoying the trip, he notes the 24-hour stopover before his return cuts into his earnings. He only gets paid for the 10 hours of flight time, even though he’s away for nearly two days.

To improve his income-to-time ratio, Ray now seeks routes that maximize pay and minimize downtime.

One such trip, he explained to the *Daily Mail*, involved “deadheading” — when a pilot travels without flying the aircraft — from LaGuardia to Dallas, then operating the return flight. This efficient schedule allowed him to work on his laptop during downtime.

“I was paid $1,556 for just over seven hours,” he said. “My time away from base was just over nine hours. This is a phenomenal scenario.”

Though early mornings are part of the job, Ray emphasizes the value of smart scheduling. His story sheds light on the balance pilots must strike between high hourly pay and unpredictable work hours.