2026 Seaplane Wages

[ThomasM]

I wanted to start a forum for 2026 wages for seaplane pilots.

This season I have received these offers on DHC-2:

A Northern Manitoba Fishing Lodge. May - October (5 months/153 days).
$250 daily (fly or not). No flight time pay. No overtime. No bonus.
Total pay over the season would be 38k.
Room and board included.
Expect 200 hours + per season.
You are not expected to do anything at the lodge if you're not flying - strictly employed as a pilot.

A Northern BC operator. 6 months. 11k per month. Poor contract protections - termination without cause. 3 months probation.
66k per season.
No housing provided. Possibility of full-time.

 

[BCav8r]

Wow, neither sound great!
On one hand, the days are long in the summer up North, flying 200 hours for the season doesn’t mean short days, I’m sure not working around the lodge doesn’t mean not loading/unloading your aircraft. I would shore up the expectation on length of day, I’m sure you’ll find “CARs” limits is tiring. Room and board sounds great but are you still needing to pay rent elsewhere or just going to store your things and try and find something in the fall.
The other hand, there is a reason they pay 11k, what does rent look like, other costs? The 3 months probation is meaningless, those type of operations will let you go anytime, they are not worried about a wrongful termination from a pilot, they know full well pilots won’t do that, maybe 1 in 10 might.
Personally I would hope for a better option and you could always take the one you prefer but keep looking for better, May is still some time away!

 

[amphibcaravan]

I agree that neither offer sounds great… There have been a ton of job postings this year, I’m guessing that the bush’s lack of competitive wages and working conditions have steered a good number of people into other area of aviation/other careers in general. I know of a few myself, who have changed things up the last few years. Hopefully operators will realize quickly and be able to retain more moving forward. It’s definitely cheaper to pay an experienced guy/gal a respectable wage than to pay it to the insurance company…

Housing not provided is pretty ridiculous for a seasonal offer in my opinion.

Your options will obviously vary depending on your level of experience, but I can tell you what two of my friends (who I’m guessing have similar levels of experience to you) got. Both will be on their 3rd season and will be based in Ontario at operations with solid tips and accommodations included. One will be making 11k/month on a Beaver and the other will be making 12k/month on a Caravan (with meals provided).

Keep looking, I hope you’re able to find something more in line with what they got!

 

[ThomasM]

I received an offer from a Vancouver Island operator. $7800 monthly. No accommodation or meals. DHC2. Seasonal - with potential of full-time.

 

[ThomasM]

DHC3T for Harbour Air. 4 days on/3 off, 12 hour duty days blocked. April 6th - October 31st. 4-6 hours logged a day. Expect 500 hours a season. 78 hours bi-weekly (at approximately $51.00 an hour), OT over 80. Potential for casual contract over winter (if you're local). 3% retention bonus. Offering accommodation at $900 a month locally. Expect 10 hours of OT during peak summer. Per diems are $4.50 while at work (would be $4000 tax free a season approximately).

Putting this all together: you would be earning slightly under $60,000 a season.

Current wait-time to be a full-timer is expected to be 2 seasons.