First Couple Year Pay
- Thread starter ComplexHiAv8r
- Start date
EatSleepFly
Well-Known Member
Good luck with that. Hope the plane doesn't fall out from underneath ya.
Yeah, and CRJ's are just rock solid pieces of fine machinery. :cwm27:
Maximilian_Jenius
Super User
Not a frigging chance man. Austin just got hired here so we're gonna find a cheap place to crash and get some TPIC time here in a year bro
You're not a real pilot until you fly an automated jet and are at FL280 going .80 props are for losers.
I wanna fly that E170 or the CRJ-900. Man I'd take a pay cut to fly that thing.
Maximilian_Jenius
Super User
Lol...well I text'd you the same thing last Sat. to no reply so figga'd hey why not join in on the fun.
meritflyer
Well-Known Member
I was told that a 3rd year, newly upgraded captain at Skywest could earn $70K.
OldTownPilot
Well-Known Member
....if he upgrades in two years....not that likely.
TexasFlyer
Living the Dream (well at least trying to)
Here is a good comparison for someone on their "game" in the corporate world. Here are the real world facts about this person:
* College from 1991-1996 and graduated in 1996. Graduated at the age of 23 (yeah, took the 5 year plan and had to work part-time to pay for it to keep the loans reasonable... ended up with around $35K in loans back in 1996; same program now is closer to $60K at that college).
* First job out of college, made $28K in 1997.
* In 2000 made $70K.
* In 2002 this person was unemployed for about 8 months due to the effects of 9-11 on business, but got to work later that year but only made around $40K that year trying to do the best they could. 2003 was a better year of around $65K and in 2004 things were back on track in the $90K range.
* In 2006 makes around $115K at 33 years old.
* Getting close to "topping out" since $150K is a realistic top over the next few years (say by 2010 and at about 37 years old). So only expect cost of living raises or less thereafter.
* As far as QOL, pretty much home every night. But how productive is home every night when work starts at around 8am and you get home around 8pm-9pm since your average day is 12 hours? So you come home, eat dinner, relax for a couple hours and you are out cold from the stress of knowing any day your job can end as soon as you can be replaced by the younger person who begins to perform better than you. But yes, at least you work hard in order to have your Friday night and Saturday off to enjoy each week. That is if you do not out from exhaustion on Friday, since then it only leaves you Saturday to enjoy. Sunday, well that's doing some work around the house and that evening is spent preparing for work Monday.
Now, how does this compare to the airline career path?
* One year of flight school and online college (most effective that way IMO). Then Flight Instruct for three years while finishing online degree. Let's consider this as that 4-5 years of college the person above took. So with the off-set of the CFI job, their loans come out to about the same amount; around $40K total back in 1996. Now it's time to get that regional airline job since you are very well qualified to apply in 1997 with that experience / hours / training.
Here are the questions. It's now 1997 and you started at American Eagle (or similar).
* How much did you make in 1997?
* How about in 2000?
* Did you get Furloughed after 9-11? If so, what did you make in 2002 and 2003?
* How much are you now making in 2006?
* How is your QOL in 2006?
* What compensation amount will your career be at around 2012 with a Regional? Or will you be at a major?
* What's your ultimate career top out in compensation in your opinion?
Hope someone knows the answers to the these. I think it would be a great comparison. At least it would be for me
PS - Oh, I also know many people who graduated college in 1996 and work from 8am to 5pm. Have a very high QOL. And started at $26K in 1996 and now make $60K and will absoltuely top out at $75K to $80K in their career over the next 10 years. They do this to remain in their high QOL professional 8-5 jobs and are happy doing just that. They are quite bored at work, but the QOL is why they stay. They traded QOL for less income. Then there are the unlucky ones, who still have to work 55+ hours a week for $60K to $75K a year and can't do any better for a variety of reasons, yet can't seem to get that high QOL job either. Sometimes life is not fair...
* College from 1991-1996 and graduated in 1996. Graduated at the age of 23 (yeah, took the 5 year plan and had to work part-time to pay for it to keep the loans reasonable... ended up with around $35K in loans back in 1996; same program now is closer to $60K at that college).
* First job out of college, made $28K in 1997.
* In 2000 made $70K.
* In 2002 this person was unemployed for about 8 months due to the effects of 9-11 on business, but got to work later that year but only made around $40K that year trying to do the best they could. 2003 was a better year of around $65K and in 2004 things were back on track in the $90K range.
* In 2006 makes around $115K at 33 years old.
* Getting close to "topping out" since $150K is a realistic top over the next few years (say by 2010 and at about 37 years old). So only expect cost of living raises or less thereafter.
* As far as QOL, pretty much home every night. But how productive is home every night when work starts at around 8am and you get home around 8pm-9pm since your average day is 12 hours? So you come home, eat dinner, relax for a couple hours and you are out cold from the stress of knowing any day your job can end as soon as you can be replaced by the younger person who begins to perform better than you. But yes, at least you work hard in order to have your Friday night and Saturday off to enjoy each week. That is if you do not out from exhaustion on Friday, since then it only leaves you Saturday to enjoy. Sunday, well that's doing some work around the house and that evening is spent preparing for work Monday.
Now, how does this compare to the airline career path?
* One year of flight school and online college (most effective that way IMO). Then Flight Instruct for three years while finishing online degree. Let's consider this as that 4-5 years of college the person above took. So with the off-set of the CFI job, their loans come out to about the same amount; around $40K total back in 1996. Now it's time to get that regional airline job since you are very well qualified to apply in 1997 with that experience / hours / training.
Here are the questions. It's now 1997 and you started at American Eagle (or similar).
* How much did you make in 1997?
* How about in 2000?
* Did you get Furloughed after 9-11? If so, what did you make in 2002 and 2003?
* How much are you now making in 2006?
* How is your QOL in 2006?
* What compensation amount will your career be at around 2012 with a Regional? Or will you be at a major?
* What's your ultimate career top out in compensation in your opinion?
Hope someone knows the answers to the these. I think it would be a great comparison. At least it would be for me
PS - Oh, I also know many people who graduated college in 1996 and work from 8am to 5pm. Have a very high QOL. And started at $26K in 1996 and now make $60K and will absoltuely top out at $75K to $80K in their career over the next 10 years. They do this to remain in their high QOL professional 8-5 jobs and are happy doing just that. They are quite bored at work, but the QOL is why they stay. They traded QOL for less income. Then there are the unlucky ones, who still have to work 55+ hours a week for $60K to $75K a year and can't do any better for a variety of reasons, yet can't seem to get that high QOL job either. Sometimes life is not fair...
It is very possible at most of the jet operating regionals, to pull in $70K your first year or two as a captain. Whether you become a captain at year 3, is the question. It depends on upgrade time. Upgrading in two years on the CRJ at SkyW might be a little optimistic. I would say you will upgrade after year 3, maybe 4. But that salary seems realistic for a newly upgraded captain in the CRJ. I know guys who made that, or more within their first year or two as a captain at several regionals.
You make an interesting point, and I am glad you made it. I too know people who have graduated college in recent years, as well as those who have been working in their career for numerous years. Seems most careers, unless you become an engineer, etc., tend to top out around $70K, maybe $80K in the higher range. Even some engineers, for that matter, don't make much more than that. My sister, who graduated with a business degree, had a starting salary of $26K. Friends graduating recently tend to be getting $30-$35K. This is what helps me keep regional pay in perspective. From a responsibility stand point, I think regional CAs and FOs deserve more money. But, salary wise, it isn't bad.