An observation in the form of a question ...

pilot602

pilot602

If specified, this will replace the title that
Why is it "OK" to talk about pilot pay scales in the national media, local media, around the water-cooler, in church, at the grocery store etc. when at 99% of all other jobs it's usually required that no one tells anyone else what they make?

I just find it odd that some how the majority of the general public thinks it has some right to comment on, or some bearing on, what pilots make yet no one has any right to even ask what they make, let alone write editorials or put their "contract" on the national news as the lead off story.

In other words, why is salary usually no one's business until it comes to airline pilots and sports figures (even celebrities usually mask what they truly make per movie) and then it becomes a topic of public debate?

Just an observation ...
 
Usually petty jealousies.

People are more than happy to say "Wow, you make $X? You're overpaid!" which translates into "Aww gee, you're half my age and twice my income and I feel bad so instead of me not focusing on creating a higher income, let me shift the blame from me to you and make you the village idiot".

Get used to it, people!
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Meanwhile, my brother works for the mosquito abatement (more or less sprays bugs for the county) in California, makes about $30/hr and I think it's grand. But some bozo working down at Wal Mart would probably say "Oh, Mike's overpaid!" (I feel bad).
 
In my experience most union or union based pay scales such as prevailing wage rates are available to the public. Prevailing wage is the norm for large construction projects over a certain amount that varies by state. I think the problem is only the upper end of pilot pay scales are reported in the media. I clearly remember my suprise when a Comair pilot shared his FO salary range over a couple of cold ones.
 
>>In other words, why is salary usually no one's business until it comes to airline pilots and sports figures (even celebrities usually mask what they truly make per movie) and then it becomes a topic of public debate?<<

I can't remeber when such things weren't a matter of public debate. How about "teachers and firemen make so and so while xyz makes such and such, it just ain't right". Or ask any corporate CEO if pay isn't a public issue.

Pilot salaries are of interest because the airline insustry is in the midst of a massive realignment, some of which will involve failied companies. And airlines have always been news and held a certain fascination for people for as long as they've existed.

It goes with the territory.
 
I couldn't name one industry that isn't 'realigning'.

IT had a big shift, but I couldn't tell you what my brother-in-law earned during the dot-com days and I certainly couldn't tell you what he's earning now.

The big difference is the fact that any industry with collective bargaining/organized labor is privy to having their dirty laundry thrown out in the media. If the UAW is negotiating a new contract, GM will most likely leak pay scales to the media so Molly McButter with the $5 an hour job at Wally World says, "$40/hr to build cars? Heck, that's way too much! Go GM!" or whenever municipal/city workers ask for a cost of living adjustment, the local paper always brings out the "Well, a secretary with 5 trillion years of experience may earn 'up to' $35,000 for 4 days worth of work, all paid holidays and flex time!" so then the local townsfolk see the workers in the grocery store (OR ONLINE IN A INTERNET FORUM) and tell them they're nuts expecting to make what they make.

It's pretty simple.

And sometimes very effective.
 
Compared to the cost of living today pilots back in the 60s/70s probably made a lot more $$ than we do today....
 
But it's still more than the average worker so you're always going to catch slack.

If I hear one more "Oh, you're always off!" I'm going to start replying with "Oh, you're always working hard worrying about my days off".
 
Yea I hear you there. I get all kinds of slack for being paid for my 4 weeks down time between sim.. Youd think people have their own problems to worry about. sheesh
 
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But it's still more than the average worker so you're always going to catch slack.

If I hear one more "Oh, you're always off!" I'm going to start replying with "Oh, you're always working hard worrying about my days off".

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I think a far more interesting response would be: "Well, if you think piloting is such a slack (great, sweet, etc.) gig, why don't you do it?"

One of my (many) personal peeves is people who whine incessantly about what they don't have and what others have but who take no steps to change their situation!! If they really thought pilots had it so great, they ought to all run out and become pilots.

Not that I really want them to do that . . . I just want them to shut up.
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MF
 
Because in America (contrary to popular belief) we do not love a winner. We love it when we win. So when somebody else is doing better we need to bring them down a notch or two.

Just look at the class envy and warfare encouraged by politicians.
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Quite simply most pilot pay scales are readily available to the media & the general public, in fact, a website was listed on here that had the pay scales from numerous airlines. So of course people feel that this entitles them to an opinion. Now, recently, the unions of Vons, Ralphs, & Albertons all went on strike in California, & people had an opinion of their salaries as well.

Everybody seems to have an opinion about something, not just in aviation.
 
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If I hear one more "Oh, you're always off!" I'm going to start replying with "Oh, you're always working hard worrying about my days off".

[/ QUOTE ]

Man, I have a hard enough time getting the days off I want as a ramper, I can only imagine how badly it's gonna suck when/if I get into the pilot world. It's annoying having to plan months in advance. I'll sit down with the release dates for the summer movies when I think about which lines I'm going to bid. I normally wind up blowing vacation days to get the days I REALLY need.
 
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"Oh, you're always off!"


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Yeah, it's funny how the neighbors always notice when you're home on weekdays, but they never seem to notice when you're not home on Christmas, New Years, Memorial Day, Easter, kids Birthdays, etc.
 
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Yeah, it's funny how the neighbors always notice when you're home on weekdays, but they never seem to notice when you're not home on Christmas, New Years, Memorial Day, Easter, kids Birthdays, etc.

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Truer words have ever been spoken.

But then those same neighbors will be "Oh, you worked during Xmas? At least you got holiday pay right???? Right?!?!?!?! Really? Well, at least you were in Paris, right??? Right!?!?!?! Oh, on a layover in Baton Rouge! That must have been nice... Oh, only 8 hours? Geez!"
 
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Man, I have a hard enough time getting the days off I want as a ramper, I can only imagine how badly it's gonna suck when/if I get into the pilot world. It's annoying having to plan months in advance. I'll sit down with the release dates for the summer movies when I think about which lines I'm going to bid. I normally wind up blowing vacation days to get the days I REALLY need.

[/ QUOTE ]

I bid my vacation months ago to be able to embark on a cruise starting in late May. The schedule I got conflicted with when the cruise we were looking forward to all year. So I've have a "trip drop", a "authorized personal leave" in for that trip for the past 23 days and nada, zip, zero.

Ahh yes! And my pals are already making plans for June and the bid package is just BARELY coming out now.
 
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