how can you possibly live on a pilot's starting salary??????

bradley

bradley

New Member
how can you possibly live on a pilot\'s starting salary??????

As an aviator and future aviation professional, it scares the hell out of me to see the starting salaries for jobs in this field. I expect to start out making maybe $15,000 a year, if I'm lucky. Considering that starting pay at a regional is around $17,000 (correct me if I am wrong), and with this $17,000 you reside in a big city with a high cost of living, how do you even pay the rent? Let alone feed yourself. Any insight into this would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
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Re: how can you possibly live on a pilot\'s starting salary??????

Well if your hot you could prolly sell your a$$ in the red light district for some supplemental income!
Still others have suggested marrying or dating rich!
But most realisitically since you already know that starting salaries suck!
Perhaps you can start saving money now so when it starts raining you'll have a shelter over your head to keep you dry...just a thought!
This career choice isn't for everyone and you won't be movin on up to the suburbs banking a six figure salary right away.
If you do however choose to pursue aviation as a professional career I think that your jr. years will be defining years.
They will teach you what you will need to know and how to live wisely in both the good profitable years and the hard bleak times the industry will always face.
I very often hear pilots talk about the industry being very cyclical!

-Matthew
 
Re: how can you possibly live on a pilot\'s starting salary??????

My first job, I was pulling in about $16,000, wife was making about $18,000. We had one car, a 1 bedroom apartment, our furniture were milk crates, we ate on the floor.

How can a pilot live on a low starting salary? Same as anybody else that is starting a new career, live frugally as possible.
 
Re: how can you possibly live on a pilot\'s starting salary??????

[ QUOTE ]
Considering that starting pay at a regional is around $17,000 (correct me if I am wrong), and with this $17,000 you reside in a big city with a high cost of living, how do you even pay the rent? Let alone feed yourself. Any insight into this would be greatly appreciated.

[/ QUOTE ]

Dude, you're being silly. It doesn't matter what you make.

You're flying a shiny new JET!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Re: how can you possibly live on a pilot\'s starting salary??????

I bring in an extra $1000/month doing AF reserve stuff on my days off
 
Re: how can you possibly live on a pilot\'s starting salary??????

It helps to be single so you can split your housing costs up with 2 or 3 friends. I bring in about 1700 dollars a month at Expressjet, of that I pay 300 bucks a month in rent, another 200 or so on bills and 150 on gas. That leaves about $1000/month for meals and spending money, which is definitely liveable. It's not exactly glamorous but I can't complain too much. Once I get off reserve next month I'll probably be able to bring in an extra hundred or two every month by flying over guarantee, and in 6 months I'm off first year pay, which is a 50% raise.

If you're not single make sure your sig. other is raking in the dough. If you had much debt going in it would be really tough, but debt tends to do that no matter where you are.
 
Re: how can you possibly live on a pilot\'s starting salary??????

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My first job, I was pulling in about $16,000, wife was making about $18,000. We had one car, a 1 bedroom apartment, our furniture were milk crates, we ate on the floor.

[/ QUOTE ]

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Put off the plasma screen TV and the Hummer for a while. Like was also mentioned, splitting costs with roommates helps. I lived in a 3 bedroom apt with 4 other people when I was working at Universal, and that helped. Move back in with your parents, that helps a little, too. Also, depending on which airline you get hired with, you might not HAVE to live in a big city. You can commute or get a crashpad, but a crashpad would be in addition to rent wherever you live.
 
Re: how can you possibly live on a pilot\'s starting salary??????

Aside from the tips already mentioned, it also helps to realize early on that flying isn't a career or a job. Anyway you cut it, it's a lifestyle. You're commiting to great views from the office, lots of cool buttons, dials, and switches, and the potential for intense enjoyment from your time in the pointy end of the plane. You're also tied to years of crappy pay, little or no job security, high costs of education, a fair amount of risk, and little appreciation from those you work for (bosses and clients alike).

Most people who stick with it seem to make flying a priority and have to let other aspects of their life come second. With my limited experience as a full-time instructor, I can say that if you don't want to eat it, breathe it, and sleep it, it's going to be a loooong ride.
 
Re: how can you possibly live on a pilot\'s starting salary??????

If your smart you will skip the regionals.There are other places that pay better and have quicker upgrades.Viper what unit are you in?
 
Re: how can you possibly live on a pilot\'s starting salary??????

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If your smart

[/ QUOTE ]

Funny stuff.
 
Re: how can you possibly live on a pilot\'s starting salary??????

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Considering that starting pay at a regional is around $17,000 (correct me if I am wrong)

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It's more like $20K, possibly a little more depending on which regional and how much they need you.
 
Re: how can you possibly live on a pilot\'s starting salary??????

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Ramen Noodles

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Just bought a 12 pack for $1.40.

Not a bad price, definitely have found cheaper, but I don't buy it because it's cheap. I love the stuff!
 
Re: how can you possibly live on a pilot\'s starting salary??????

I know how you feel. I don't see how you can survive on that salry. My parents won't even let me pursue a career in aviation because the salary is too low. They want me to become a businessman or engineer because it pays more. I love flying and really wanted to be a professional pilot, but I'll have to settle for flight simming and flying the 172 around on weekends for a $100 hamburger.
 
Re: how can you possibly live on a pilot\'s starting salary??????

[ QUOTE ]
Dude, you're being silly. It doesn't matter what you make.

You're flying a shiny new JET!!!!!!!!!!!!
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crazy.gif


[/ QUOTE ]

LOL

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I love the stuff!


[/ QUOTE ]

Me too, for now. My desire for Ramen is cyclical...like the airline industry!
 
Re: how can you possibly live on a pilot\'s starting salary??????

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Ramen Noodles

[/ QUOTE ]

Just bought a 12 pack for $1.40.

Not a bad price, definitely have found cheaper, but I don't buy it because it's cheap. I love the stuff!

[/ QUOTE ]

Ramen noodles. Mmmmmmmmmmmm. They're great by themselves, and even better mixed in an "asian salad."
 
Re: how can you possibly live on a pilot\'s starting salary??????

I dunno.. looking back on it, I guess you "just do it"...you go with the flow, live as frugally as possible yet somehow, your still able to "enjoy life" some.. make whatever you can out of it and just roll with the punches.

it all works out in the end and you really do learn some valuable lessons in money making & saving!
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Re: how can you possibly live on a pilot\'s starting salary??????

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I know how you feel. I don't see how you can survive on that salry. My parents won't even let me pursue a career in aviation because the salary is too low. They want me to become a businessman or engineer because it pays more. I love flying and really wanted to be a professional pilot, but I'll have to settle for flight simming and flying the 172 around on weekends for a $100 hamburger.

[/ QUOTE ]

Do something YOU want to do not your parents. I'd rather be poor and extremely happy with my life (which I am) rather than rich and miserable! Money IS NOT everything!
 
Re: how can you possibly live on a pilot\'s starting salary??????

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
I know how you feel. I don't see how you can survive on that salry. My parents won't even let me pursue a career in aviation because the salary is too low. They want me to become a businessman or engineer because it pays more. I love flying and really wanted to be a professional pilot, but I'll have to settle for flight simming and flying the 172 around on weekends for a $100 hamburger.

[/ QUOTE ]

Do something YOU want to do not your parents. I'd rather be poor and extremely happy with my life (which I am) rather than rich and miserable! Money IS NOT everything!

[/ QUOTE ]

I can't. Money means nothing to me and I would rather do something that makes me happy, but it's important to my parents and they would be very disappointed if I decided to go with the flying career instead of something more "stable." I can still fly, just not as a career. Plus they're paying most of my college tuition, so I can't complain. It would be disrespectful to them .

I don't want to hijack this thread, so I may start a new thread on it.
 
Re: how can you possibly live on a pilot\'s starting salary??????

[ QUOTE ]
My parents won't even let me pursue a career in aviation because the salary is too low. They want me to become a businessman or engineer because it pays more. I love flying and really wanted to be a professional pilot, but I'll have to settle for flight simming and flying the 172 around on weekends for a $100 hamburger.

[/ QUOTE ]eh? how old are you again? not to be rude, but are your parents going to be living your life/career or you?

i know you probably went into the whole thing before with your old username or whatnot, but if you've chosen to not take a career in aviation, it isn't because of your parents...or at least i sincerely hope not...because some day, if you continue to blame your parents and not take full blame yourself for "giving up" on your choice of career, you'll resent them for that and that's the last thing you want to do to yourself or them. just FYI, been there, done that.

edit: it is not at all disrespectful to follow the dreams you want to follow. it would be disrespectful to go to college, have them pay for the 4 years or more for a degree you never wanted in the first place and might never use... there are way too many youngin's that do that now a days and don't take those money/career choices in hand when need be. your parents probably want to "see" the passion themselves before they know that it's what you REALLY want out of life. keep in mind, all most parents want is for their youngin's to be happy through life...having a miserable job doesn't equate to happiness.
 
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