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

I think if we're going to determine that a baseline of $40 or $50K is hunky dory because people "seem" to be doing okay is a little shallow.

Take a peek at $45K in the 70's/80's when a lot of us were growing up and it's probably equivalent to the lifestyle you'd live at $80 or 90K.

"Doing OK" doesn't mean living paycheck to paycheck, completely leveraged and depending on SSI or sale of their "dood, lookit what my house it worth now!!!" for retirement.
 
BrettInLJ said:
Wrong. I made that after only a few years out of college as a software engineer. I still didn't care for my job.
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I said your 'typical' person, meaning a majority of people. Some make more than that, engineers being one of the few. But, a majority of people will not.

I should also add, I know numerous regional captains who upgraded after only a few years, and were making that. My point is, the salaries, as far as from a numbers stand point, are no different for pilots, than for people working in other careers. The percentage of people in a given industry making six figures, is no different than the percentage of pilots at the majors making six figures. And those who are not making six figures in other industries, are not typically making more than a regional captain. My neighbor is an engineer, and he makes no more than a Mesa captain.
 
Re: how can you possibly live on a pilot\'s starting salary??????

Ice_Hawk said:
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.
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This is all I know ... I'm searching for colleges right now, and the biggest deal is the $$$. I never knew how expensive it was until I seriously started working. I think I've got about 80% of the money covered for one of my choices, but obviously I'm going to try and get scholarships to go to my 'first choice.' I also never knew that at some (most?) places you have to maintain a 3.0 GPA in college to keep your scholarship (and that's on the college grading scale ... much tougher). I know that if I did something I didn't want to do, like engineering, it'd be plain and simply much harder for me to maintain a GPA like that. So the moral of the story is, do something you're going to be motivated to do.
 
Re: how can you possibly live on a pilot\'s starting salary??????

skydog said:
They don't make less money because the pilot in question only has 1 or 2 years of experience. They sure has hell don't sell tickets based on the experience level of the pilot flying that flight.

In terms of the value a pilot brings to his employer, a first year pilot is worth no less than a 10 year pilot and vice versa. Therefore, they should be paid exactly the same.

Pilots should be paid a wage based on equipment and position. Years of experience should have nothing to do with it. That wage should be adjusted each year for cost of living. Pilots who take on additonal responsibilties (check airman, ground instructor, etc) should make additional money because they bring added value to the company.
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So, let me get this straight. You're saying the guy with 500 hours and no time in an RJ is worth the same to an employer as the guy that's been there for 10 years? What if he has to fly through a t-storm (or divert) then fly an approach to mins into DTW, which he's never landed at before? Which do you think the COMPANY would rather have at the controls? The green pilot right out of training or the 10 year vet that's been through the WX and can land in DTW in his sleep? Which has a better chance of landing the plane on time and safely, thus affecting the bottom line of the airline?

And as far as making $70K as a CA at Mesa, money isn't everything. I'd rather make less money and have more days off with my family than work under some of their contract restraints. Hopefully, the pilots there will be able to get a better contract with the negotiations.
 
Re: how can you possibly live on a pilot\'s starting salary??????

bradley said:
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
confused.gif
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You can do mortgage on the side. You can make an extra $8-10K a month working all of 6 hours....

PM me if you want more info....

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

JTFC guys, do you think being a pilot is an average job that Joe Blow down the street can do? And for those of you that do, do you actually fly for a living? I don't mean holding a commercial pilots license, because that checkride is a joke; I mean somebody that has passed a type ride, a 121 or a 135 PC.
 
How does a salary like this affect a single man with no bills?

Hopefully I can live more confortable using my G.I bill to pay for flight training and pay the rest off right away, and staying single.


PLAN PLAN PLAN
 
Doesn't matter; you still don't have a clue about any of this. You don't have bills to pay, kids to feed or a career to make happen yet.

You can tell a 36 year old with the job you wished you had to plan better all you want, but to be honest it's kind of frustrating to watch.
 
jtrain609 said:
Doesn't matter; you still don't have a clue about any of this. You don't have bills to pay, kids to feed or a career to make happen yet.

You can tell a 36 year old with the job you wished you had to plan better all you want, but to be honest it's kind of frustrating to watch.
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What you know about me? I do have Bills to pay, I do have a career to make, and also 2 jobs to keep, while going to school. I just dont want to end up bitching like most people here

"Eat soup or you wont survive a first year FO salary"

Prepare and you wont be surprised!
 
Re: how can you possibly live on a pilot\'s starting salary??????

B767Driver said:
Or maybe it's because you become more valuable to the company. As you progress in years of service and seniority...you are moving closer to becoming a captain. An airline definitely wants its experienced folks in the captain's seat. Hiring a street captain anywhere is definitely not ideal, regardless of experience. Training, procedures, policies, etc are definitely different between carriers. Those accrued years of service definitely mean something.
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Accrued years of service and experience may mean something to your co-pilot or captain, but that is about it. Airline executives don't care, as long as their pilots are meet the FAA's and their insurance carrier's definition of "qualified". If management really cared, then you wouldn't see 500 hour wonder-kids getting hired.
 
Browning3TX said:
anyhow, i ws looking at the comair flight academy in orlando florida, thought i'd ask anyone if they thought this was a good way to rich the big leagues/airlines, i know they promise a spot on the regional airlines, and to me i feel just getting away from college/change of scenary may be good in my life, just enjoy it a little more. but i thought i'd ask anyone if they are in the regional airlines, and how many yes they expect to fly in the crj until they get the opp. to fly w/the big boys delta/aa/etc. if you could lend any advice, i'd greatly appreciate it.

aaron, tx.
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No, do NOT do Comair. Actually, it's the Delta Connection Academy now in Sanford, FL (just north of Orlando). They are WAAAAY over priced and their fleet is old and beat up. Add on hurricanes and summer thunderstorms and you'd find youself flying a whole LOT less than what they'll throw at you on the "free" tour, if you do it. Trust me, I did my CFI/II there and made it through the Standz class and was hired as an instructor. I did it for a couple of months, but at $10/hr, I just couldn't make it and, thankfully, soon after a much, much better (lucrative) opportunity arose. At DCA, you'd have no fun in spending a 10 hour day having flights cancelled for weather/maintenance and doing paper work and not making a friggin' dime. $10/hr is only for flight, sim, and limited ground work (that may have changed a little since I was there last year as they were pushing for their first raise in something like 15 years). Plus, the management/bean counters are complete buffoons. And that's not just from me. Ask any other instructor that been there at least a few months. They are all treated like complete crap and DCA constantly holds "the B/S guaranteed interview" over their heads. Basically, if you stand up for anything that's right or would improve quality of life/operations, be prepared to have your head shot off... Also, you do NOT need the "guaranteed interview"...just put your time in and apply when you reach the required mins...you'll get the interview just fine. You are severely mistaken if you think DCA guarantees or would promise you a spot at a regional--read their propaganda again closely. Not the case at all...only the interview is "somewhat" guaranteed and that sometimes comes a LONG time after you've already met their flight instructing minimums (600 single and 100 multi dual given--some guys weren't getting interviews until 1200+ hours). You'll get the interview, but it's up to YOU to get hired and make it through FO taining.

Clear enough for ya? :)
 
Re: how can you possibly live on a pilot\'s starting salary??????

jtrain609 said:
JTFC guys, do you think being a pilot is an average job that Joe Blow down the street can do? And for those of you that do, do you actually fly for a living? I don't mean holding a commercial pilots license, because that checkride is a joke; I mean somebody that has passed a type ride, a 121 or a 135 PC.
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Not to jump completely on you here, but why do you think the Comm checkride is a joke? And why is it (not just you, others here also) keep on putting down the one trying to learn?

No, I dont think the average down the street can do this, there is alot of training and life flying to prepare for professional flying.

No, I dont hold a Comm (yet that is), and hense havent passed a 121 or 135 PC.

I do have to fly Part 91 for business alot (1-3 times a week), and yes, if I dont fly I either have to drive (at no travel costs) or not go and NOT get paid! I believe I have begun the path of life flying without the Comm, and it is making me a better pilot. There are some of us here that can bring alot to the discussions and we dont have the 121 or 135 job.

Remember all of you were just PPL at one time!
 
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