Distpatcher

M

maxshuty

Well-Known Member
Hi all -

I currently go to school for ATC - but as of lately I've been thinking more and more about dispatch.

I think dispatch might be more up my alley. I see the payscales starting pay is ~$28-32k/year. Highend makes $100K+. How hard is it to get a job now at the entry level regionals? And approximentaly how long will it take me to get above the $75k+ mark? I'd love to do this as a career but I dont think I could live on the entry level pay for a super long time, maybe a few years but I'd hope to be making at least $75k after 5-8 years... Help?
 
Stick with ATC. With the exception of flight benefits, working for the feds seems to be the safer and richer route. If I wasn't colorblind, I'd be right there with you.

5 years with a regional is the safe assumption before moving into a major. Some do it in less and some do it in more time while others stay put and make a career working at a regional for various reasons. It all depends on your personal goals, location preferences, the job market, and your ability to network.
 
I hate to say it but I may be pulling out of MCTC's ATC program. I'm 75% through it but some personal stuff has come up and I might have to pull out this week actually. :( I love ATC and what we've done thus far but aside from the stuff that's come up this school has drained me of everything. Class is at 8AM and I live 70 miles away, and then there is morning rushhour in the cities, so to realistically get there on time I'm waking up at 5-6am. I can't complain about that but it just makes for a really long day and I've also got classes at another school I attend (for Aviation Management, honestly have no idea what I can do with that degree but I've been in that for two years so far and didn't want to drop it completely)
5 years isn't bad if I could achieve that (I dont see why not...?) I'm very relaxed on the whole location bit as long as I'm not in Ohio (sorry to those from Ohio - I took a road trip and had to drive through that state and pretty much hated every minute of it, lol). I have had two professors at another college that are currently Dispatchers for major carriers - and I know them both fairly well, along with lots and lots of other aviation students I've met throughout my years in college.
I just have the personal goal of $100k+, it's the one thing I've wanted.
 
maxshuty said:
I just have the personal goal of $100k+, it's the one thing I've wanted.
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Your chances at attaining that in the field of dispatch are just short of astronomical. FedEx and UPS are pretty much your only options (without attaining a management position) and competition for their open positions, when available once in a blue moon, is fierce and the applications for them number in the hundreds.

It is possible, but if that's a personal goal you may find it quite difficult to achieve. I'm pretty sure there are a thousand dispatchers already well ahead in terms of experience who share the same elusive ambition.
 
Thanks Kev, that's what I was looking to hear - the truth - rather than some optomistic numbers on websites.
 
Kev said:
Your chances at attaining that in the field of dispatch are just short of astronomical. FedEx and UPS are pretty much your only options (without attaining a management position) and competition for their open positions, when available once in a blue moon, is fierce and the applications for them number in the hundreds.

It is possible, but if that's a personal goal you may find it quite difficult to achieve. I'm pretty sure there are a thousand dispatchers already well ahead in terms of experience who share the same elusive ambition.
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While you are correct that UPS is the only carrier with a top-out pay of more than $100,000 (probably FedEx as well, but I don't have their pay scale) you also have to factor in working overtime, as well as shift premiums, etc. I think it's quite possible to make more than $100,000 at most of the majors, depending upon the amound of overtime you can work.

I have some reference information from our last contract negotiations, so I've compiled the top-out pay for the large majors as well as UPS below and rounded the number to the nearest $1,000. Reaching the top-out of the payscale varies depending upon each carrier's contract but usually takes anywhere from 10 to 15 years.

American: $79,000
Continental: $89,000
Delta: $89,000
Southwest: $92,000
United: $84,000
US Airways: $79,000
UPS: $107,000

While United and Continental are merging, their dispatch offices will be in their current locations until 2012.
 
manniax said:
While you are correct that UPS is the only carrier with a top-out pay of more than $100,000 (probably FedEx as well, but I don't have their pay scale) you also have to factor in working overtime, as well as shift premiums, etc. I think it's quite possible to make more than $100,000 at most of the majors, depending upon the amound of overtime you can work.

I have some reference information from our last contract negotiations, so I've compiled the top-out pay for the large majors as well as UPS below and rounded the number to the nearest $1,000. Reaching the top-out of the payscale varies depending upon each carrier's contract but usually takes anywhere from 10 to 15 years.

American: $79,000
Continental: $89,000
Delta: $89,000
Southwest: $92,000
United: $84,000
US Airways: $79,000
UPS: $107,000

While United and Continental are merging, their dispatch offices will be in their current locations until 2012.
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Are You moving up to ORD when this merge is complete?
 
manniax said:
Reaching the top-out of the payscale varies depending upon each carrier's contract but usually takes anywhere from 10 to 15 years.

American: $79,000
Continental: $89,000
Delta: $89,000
Southwest: $92,000
United: $84,000
US Airways: $79,000
UPS: $107,000

While United and Continental are merging, their dispatch offices will be in their current locations until 2012.
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All good information. Reiterating my point to Max, $100k+ in dispatch is much more the exception than the rule. Even if you were to land a gig at the majors, which is far from certain, in combination with OT to top $100k, you may be conservatively looking at 15 years or so in the profession before you have the chance to make that much. Then again, maybe not working for ATC would increase your lifespan by about 15 years.

Max, your earlier question "approximately how long will it take me to get above the $75k+ mark?" is a difficult one to answer. While $75k+ is, as noted, a realistic goal for compensation. Not everybody makes it to the majors; there are more desks at regionals then there are available spaces at majors. It can be reasonably assumed that most of those who are at the majors have settled in as career dispatchers and won't leave until retirement.

The numbers Manniax listed are topping out points on the payscale. It is not at all unusual for someone to get hired at a major as an assistant dispatcher, then wait a year or two for a seat to open up while earning 75% of the lowest scale of a signed-off dispatcher. So say you get your license, work for a regional, are fortunate enough to get a gig with a major after only two years, then wait in the wings doing manual revisions for a year or so, you're looking at about 10-12 years perhaps before you can bring in $75k after you get your license if you don't end up with UPS or FedEx. That is, if you choose to work in the U.S. Some other countries have a higher starting pay for dispatchers. Canada and Australia come to mind. I don't have hard numbers, but it's what I've heard.
 
Those who get into anything aviation-related for the money will be sorely disappointed.
You have to be passionate about your chosen career field. I know, I know, enthusiasm doesn't pay bills - but you have to make your own happiness in life.

I'm glad threads like this come up so those that are getting into the field know the truth about compensation expectations. Helps to make an informed decision. I have been in 10 years so far. I'm not poor but I'm definitely not rich.

(Would be nice to have a boat though :beer:).
 
Realistically anything is possible. As for me I was making 18K as an assistant at my first airline then topped out at 55K(ATA). Bankruptcy and off to another airline to start over again. This time I started at 33k, and the top off will be 74K in 6 years. But again, another bankruptcy and new owners plus a possible seniority list merger and no one knows for sure what will happen. Thus not sure what will happen to me

But all during the process I have picked up skills and knowledge that will allow me to be more marketable.

If the majors like to see 10-15 years experience, and most payscales top out at 15 years, you are looking 20-30 years down the road. I realize some might get lucky as a lot of majors hire from within but that only works up to a point. A lot of internal candidates may have no dispatch experience at all. UPS and FedEx have that issue and thus start looking outside for their needs.

Southwest will have to combine AirTrans operations in a couple of years. I am willing to bet that 99% of WN dispatchers have no international experience. They just recently posted for an assistant dispatcher, I don't know how many applications were received but I do know that they are asking possible candidates what type and how much international experience they have. Makes you wonder why?

If you are looking to make alot of money quickly, aviation is not the place.

Aviation is set up for the long term and that is how you have to look at it.
That may mean changing companies to get the experience you need. Regional airlines will get you international exposure but not experience, IMO. The majors are looking for long haul worldwide etops type knowledge. You can't get that at a regional.

Other than the majors, there are not that many 121 operations that do that sort of thing. Ryan, NAA, World, Omni, Capitol Cargo, maybe Vision and the new National (Ypsilanti) and the long gone ATA. Yet if you can get hired and elect to take the position you will come out so much farther ahead when you do apply to a major.

So you spend a couple of years at a regional to get your feet wet per se, 8 years at one of the above to get the experience and then you can decide from there. I've stated this before that this is probably one of the most restrictive career fields out there. You can't live anywhere you want nor can you work for any company you want. So it comes down to who do you want to work for or where do you want to live? If you get both than consider yourself lucky. As for me, I don't want to live in Chicago area, thus I will never apply to United. I'd love to work for JetBlue but not while they are in NY so it's not going to happen.

It can be done, but you have to look at it realistically and are you willing to do what it takes. Only you can decide that.
 
Kev said:
The numbers Manniax listed are topping out points on the payscale. It is not at all unusual for someone to get hired at a major as an assistant dispatcher, then wait a year or two for a seat to open up while earning 75% of the lowest scale of a signed-off dispatcher. So say you get your license, work for a regional, are fortunate enough to get a gig with a major after only two years, then wait in the wings doing manual revisions for a year or so, you're looking at about 10-12 years perhaps before you can bring in $75k after you get your license if you don't end up with UPS or FedEx. That is, if you choose to work in the U.S. Some other countries have a higher starting pay for dispatchers. Canada and Australia come to mind. I don't have hard numbers, but it's what I've heard.
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This is true, but I think assistant dispatch positions are less common than they used to be. At my current carrier people used to be hired as assistants first, but now everyone is hired as a regular dispatcher...I know that is true at another major I listed as well. However, I'm not familiar with each major's policies, so there may still be some places that hire people as assistants. I would tend to agree the 10-12 year timeframe is a good estimate for making $75K+, although I've known some people that only took a year or two to get on with a major, and others (such as myself) that took several years longer. And I would totally agree that anyone looking to get into this profession to get rich could probably do better elsewhere...you can make a good living in the majors, but you're not ever going to be in a "buy my own yacht" sort of position.
 
Kev said:
Just for the sake of posterity, dxbear had some good points in the "Is Pinnacle Really That Bad?" thread

http://forums.jetcareers.com/1557981-post15.html
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There are some valid points in that post, but I think the odds are much better than 1 in 250 of someone entering this career field and making it to a major. (A lot of people also stay at regional carriers long-term because they like the area, cost of living, etc. and there's nothing wrong with that, either.)
 
manniax said:
There are some valid points in that post, but I think the odds are much better than 1 in 250 of someone entering this career field and making it to a major. (A lot of people also stay at regional carriers long-term because they like the area, cost of living, etc. and there's nothing wrong with that, either.)
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Exactly. The most important thing in a job is that you're happy and satisfied with it. Compensation or otherwise, happiness is entirely up to you. Life's way too short for the alternative.
 
Re: Dispatcher

Kev said:
Just for the sake of posterity, dxbear had some good points in the "Is Pinnacle Really That Bad?" thread

http://forums.jetcareers.com/1557981-post15.html
Click to expand...

I am flattered that someone thought I was "quotable".. :rawk:and maybe now that the majors are merging and boomers are at least think of retiring, the odds might be more like 200 to 1..

Look lets be honest with this kids, especially one that seems to have his head on right and is in ATC.. he will "never" have the career options in dispatch that he has in ATC, where is has a mandatory 54 retirement age at full pay and medical for life..
Getting to the majors will be be even tougher in the future than is is now and it sucks now.. the qualifications, the who's who and who ya know will become even more important in 5 to 10 years.. and thats if the FAA still mandates the dispatcher by then.. Lets not forget automation is here now.. I doub the position will be eliminated, but it could evolve to something else we are not now.. aviation and the world economy is full of the word "change" and that is one thing we can bet on...

The real problem is staying long enough with a regional to get paid better, get the experience and then hope you can get a shot at a major.. and I mean Hope... then you gut to start senority all over again and at age 35 with 3 kids in school,, get to miss all their baseball games, ballet, birthdays etc... and then just to make what you where probably making close to at the regional you just left..

This is a young single persons game.. You better LOVE aviation, cuz it will east you alive if you don't and you wil hate the time you realized you wasted if you don't.. :dunno:
JMHO of course.. and 31 years of experience in and around aviation..
 
Re: Dispatcher

dxbear said:
I am flattered that someone thought I was "quotable".. :rawk:and maybe now that the majors are merging and boomers are at least think of retiring, the odds might be more like 200 to 1..

Look lets be honest with this kids, especially one that seems to have his head on right and is in ATC.. he will "never" have the career options in dispatch that he has in ATC, where is has a mandatory 54 retirement age at full pay and medical for life..
Getting to the majors will be be even tougher in the future than is is now and it sucks now.. the qualifications, the who's who and who ya know will become even more important in 5 to 10 years.. and thats if the FAA still mandates the dispatcher by then.. Lets not forget automation is here now.. I doub the position will be eliminated, but it could evolve to something else we are not now.. aviation and the world economy is full of the word "change" and that is one thing we can bet on...

The real problem is staying long enough with a regional to get paid better, get the experience and then hope you can get a shot at a major.. and I mean Hope... then you gut to start senority all over again and at age 35 with 3 kids in school,, get to miss all their baseball games, ballet, birthdays etc... and then just to make what you where probably making close to at the regional you just left..

This is a young single persons game.. You better LOVE aviation, cuz it will east you alive if you don't and you wil hate the time you realized you wasted if you don't.. :dunno:
JMHO of course.. and 31 years of experience in and around aviation..
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Gee, if it's that hard to get on with a major then I sure know a lot of 1 in 200 people. I think MORE people could get on with majors if they applied, but there is this pervasive mentality throughout the industry that majors NEVER hire from outside and when they do it's EXTREMELY DIFFICULT to get a job with them. I'm not saying it's easy, but it's far from impossible, and I think if a person applies themself and interviews well, makes contacts, etc. they have a good chance. And as for consolidation...I am sure that when UA/CO merge, there will be a lot of hiring, due to retirements from people who don't want to move to Chicago from Texas and people who don't want to work downtown that now work in Elk Grove. Who knows, when Southwest/Airtran merge, there may be some hiring there as not everyone in MCO will want to move to DAL. I have already heard that DL will be doing a lot of hiring this year...the list goes on. I don't think you should continually discourage people from entering this career field just because you're not at a major yourself.
 
Re: Dispatcher

About getting to a major. I received my license in June of 2001. Just in time for the crap to hit the fan in the industry. Even still, I was hired on by a small 121 charter carrier the following February. I took a pay cut from ramp agenting t do it, but in the long run it's worked out. 2 carriers later in 2007 I made it to a "major".

I will say though, that there are a lot of days, money be damned, I'd like to back at the small carrier. (Or the larger supplemental I was at prior). Now, I'm almost the bottom of the list and barely missed furlough last year, and we'll see next year.

There seems to be, or will be a lot of hiring in the majors right now. Luckily, should I find some place else I want, or need, to go I can. If you find someplace you fit in well, and make ends meet... might think hard about leaving. The grass can be pretty brown on the other side.

ON a side note, Manniax, have they set out a schedule for you guys to relocate to ORD?
 
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