Very mature response, Maui. Still can't get the numbers to $260,000+ though.
Quoting that as an average Jet* pilots' figure is like taking the figure of a Senior QF 744 Check and Training Captain the day before he retires, taking no leave, doing only SYD-LAX returns (Thereby getting massive overtime payments for the length of flight), then working extra hours and presenting that as what "Qantas pilots earn". This is something that airline management do in the media (As did Hawke the year before 1990) when they want to make out pilots as "fat cats'.
For what it's worth the figure I ran was based on a 330 line Captain doing 85 hours a month (10 overtime). The Jet* 330 guys can correct me if their annual average differs much from this. From what I believe the total figure on the 320 wouldn't be too much less as the ability to do higher hours is certainly there in S/H operations. About 10 additional hours a month (compared to the 330) would bring the figure very close though the 320 overnight (Very few?) allowances would be less.
Nuf.