Starting salaries of aviation jobs vs non-aviation jobs

K

ktsai91

Well-Known Member
Just wondering, is it true that starting salaries for almost any job in aviation, whether it is a piloting job or non-piloting aviation job, is lower than most starting salaries of other non-aviation careers?

For example, I saw a job posting for an airport manager with starting salary in the range from approximately $56,000 to $66,000. If I was starting out as an engineer, I could probably start out with that salary range that the airport manager in that example is making. If I was starting out in any job in aviation, my salary would probably start out as $20,000 to $30,000.

Any thoughts on starting salaries in aviation jobs vs non-aviation jobs?
 
Yeah, its crap. The fact that some pilots have to drive for Uber or something of the sort on their days off is pretty lame.
 
ktsai91 said:
Just wondering, is it true that starting salaries for almost any job in aviation, whether it is a piloting job or non-piloting aviation job, is lower than most starting salaries of other non-aviation careers?

For example, I saw a job posting for an airport manager with starting salary in the range from approximately $56,000 to $66,000. If I was starting out as an engineer, I could probably start out with that salary range that the airport manager in that example is making. If I was starting out in any job in aviation, my salary would probably start out as $20,000 to $30,000.

Any thoughts on starting salaries in aviation jobs vs non-aviation jobs?
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Nope, that's about the shape of it.

-Fox
 
wheelsup said:
Aeronautical engineers make good money, if you come from a top school and have what it takes.
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That said, getting through an engineering degree from a top school (and doing well) is much more difficult than learning how to fly. As much as we are highly skilled labor, it truly isn't that difficult to get your ratings and the barriers to entry are mostly just financial.
 
wheelsup said:
Aeronautical engineers make good money, if you come from a top school and have what it takes.
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To echo wheels it's more about having what it takes than the good school.

Having what it takes:
learn everything in uni and day one of job figure out you know dick
Of course you want to work overtime on top of your overtime
Work in a deluge of American scheduling absurdity
Learn to love absurdity
Thrive on no sleep
Learn everything, be a sponge, regurgitate at will, be right
Be right
Goto the picnics and then head right back to work
Change manufacturers every couple years as jobs end and you aren't invaluable enough to keep on the payroll
Make yourself invaluable at next place of business
Fail
Try again
Fail and succeed and can't figure out how that just happened.
Become senior engineer of something, remember you thought you knew something, nope.
Repeat. (Also, you should be able to express the entire world as a math equation by now)

I just keep collecting types and praying I land someplace thay pays me well someday.
 
When I started as a product support engineer (non engineering degree, in fact the dreaded BS in Aviation Manangemnet degree) at McDonnell-Douglas back in 1996 I was offered $45k.

When I last hired interns (they paid them the equivalent level one salary for the skill code they were assigned) they were making $58k to start.

That's the MFG side of Aviation.
 
jskibo said:
When I started as a product support engineer (non engineering degree, in fact the dreaded BS in Aviation Manangemnet degree) at McDonnell-Douglas back in 1996 I was offered $45k.

When I last hired interns (they paid them the equivalent level one salary for the skill code they were assigned) they were making $58k to start.

That's the MFG side of Aviation.
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You won't get quite that in Wichita, Kansas as an entry level position, and certainly not as an intern. I have no first hand knowledge, just second hand so I could be misunderstanding or completely be wrong.
 
BobDDuck said:
That said, getting through an engineering degree from a top school (and doing well) is much more difficult than learning how to fly. As much as we are highly skilled labor, it truly isn't that difficult to get your ratings and the barriers to entry are mostly just financial.
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Absolutely, an AE degree from a good school is no joke. It's not a popular viewpoint but IMO the wages at the majors are vastly inflated from where they really *should* be, market wise.
 
jynxyjoe said:
You won't get quite that in Wichita, Kansas as an entry level position, and certainly not as an intern. I have no first hand knowledge, just second hand so I could be misunderstanding or completely be wrong.
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When Boeing was there it was a lower cost site, not quite as low as OKC which was BAO (Boeing Aerospace Operations), but now includes the B1 programs and what's left of C130 AMP.

Have no knowledge of the other ICT manufacturers. All my Boeing hiring was in St. Louis, Wichita, Philly and Long Beach. Only folks I hired in OKC were to be sent to Saudi and that pay sucked, kind of felt bad hiring them, but I had fill rates to meet.
 
wheelsup said:
Absolutely, an AE degree from a good school is no joke. It's not a popular viewpoint but IMO the wages at the majors are vastly inflated from where they really *should* be, market wise.
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That depends on what you base "should" on.

If you base it on the potential for legal liability and the overall cost of a hull loss, pilots are vastly underpaid.

If you base it on the amount of education and intelligence required to obtain the position, pilots are vastly overpaid.

Mainline carriers seem to meet somewhere in the middle.
 
jskibo said:
When Boeing was there it was a lower cost site, not quite as low as OKC which was BAO (Boeing Aerospace Operations), but now includes the B1 programs and what's left of C130 AMP.

Have no knowledge of the other ICT manufacturers. All my Boeing hiring was in St. Louis, Wichita, Philly and Long Beach. Only folks I hired in OKC were to be sent to Saudi and that pay sucked, kind of felt bad hiring them, but I had fill rates to meet.
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Family and friends were Beech, Lear, Cessna, more Beech, and some others I can't remember.

jtrain609 said:
That depends on what you base "should" on.

If you base it on the potential for legal liability and the overall cost of a hull loss, pilots are vastly underpaid.

If you base it on the amount of education and intelligence required to obtain the position, pilots are vastly overpaid.

Mainline carriers seem to meet somewhere in the middle.
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I wonder what G4 bases it on now that they are cancelling flights due to the mass exodus of pilots due to joke wages?
 
Marketing positions usually require you to intern while in school for $0, or maybe $8 an hour if you're lucky for 20-hours a week. If you've built good relations, you'll probably be looking at $30k-$35k for an entry level marketing coordinator position which you'll likely be in for 2-4 years. Junior marketing manager is probably between $45k-$60k depending on where you're at in the country. Senior marketing manager is probably in the $75k-$100k range. Director of Marketing $100k-$120k. VP of marketing $150-$175k ish.

These salaries are based on my experience. Obviously living in NYC or SFO might up those numbers quite a bit. It's not a natural progression, though. Many marketing coordinators will never get beyond that level, same with the levels above. Unlike aviation where salaries are dictated by seniority and which seat you're sitting in.
 
The first ten years of being a pilot can be summed up as


Seems like it's pretty cool after that though.
 
The problem in aviation (at least on the pilot side) is that there's no such thing as "starting pay". If you change company you are yet again at "starting pay". The pay system in aviation is completely broken in my opinion. My S/O will be looking for a new job in her industry soon (insurance), and she's able to take her talent and experience and negotiate a wage, equal or higher to what she's making now. If I choose to go to a new airline, my experience doesn't mean squat, and I go right back to "starting pay".
 
ktsai91 said:
For example, I saw a job posting for an airport manager with starting salary in the range from approximately $56,000 to $66,000. If I was starting out as an engineer, I could probably start out with that salary range that the airport manager in that example is making. If I was starting out in any job in aviation, my salary would probably start out as $20,000 to $30,000.

Any thoughts on starting salaries in aviation jobs vs non-aviation jobs?
Click to expand...

15 years ago, I made $18/hour as a paid intern while in college, $55k first year and $90k second year out of school (EE / CS). Pay is a bit higher now. College hires frequently get low-ball offers, but usually go to someplace paying better within a year or two. There has been the constant threat of replacing people with H1-Bs from India, which does happen. Jobs where H1-B's aren't allowed tend to pay quite a bit more (mostly aerospace/defense stuff).
 
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