X-Forces
Big Black Guy
Dude, Chill.
You Can't Make Money Being A Pilot!!!
- Thread starter NEWBY101
- Start date
Dude, Chill.
bike21
9-5 Ruins Lives
There it is folks. The magic answer. Stay away from accruing debt before, during and after training. Don't buy the hype from the big academy recruiters that you will be making 100k within a couple of years. Trust me, paying $800 bucks a month on student loans isn't fun!
SIUav8er
Narcosis
man, that was a little harsh! the guys in the right place. im sure if he sticks around here, he'll learn! (I sure did!) but just the opposite will happen if everyone makes these types of comments to a new member of the forum. IMO jetcareers is really geared toward newer pilots getting started, or consdiering a career in aviation. Its great that there is so much experience in the membership here, but if you really look at the big picture, a huge part of JC is about helping the new guys.
BajtheJino
I'm looking at you.
Come on, man. Low expectations keeps me in the ladies!
The reasons the airlines aren't handing out fist of cash-F.O.s mommy and daddys already bought them their IPOD and had their tips frosted for them. After that everything else is petty cash for light beers and lime wedges (pre-sliced no less).
That being said, my first freight gig paid $30+ the first year and I've been gaining by leaps and bounds since. This year I'll pull in close to $50+. THERE IS MORE TO AVIATION THAN REGIONALS.
SD3Dog
New Member
I think the guy said that all the "people or schools" were telling him that there wasn't money in it. He just wanted to hear it from the horses mouth. Whats the big deal? Like others have said he will learn. BTW from what I have gathered you can make (at a decent regional and with upgrades as they are "today") 27k year 1, 34k year two, 36 - 45k depending if you upgrade year 3 and on up. So yea, its not UPS money but most people can make it work. Like anything else you have to pay your dues. To the guy who posted question. You will find a bunch of people who need to vent and rant on about how they feel things should be. Alot of the time they are right but you need to take it with a grain of salt sometimes. Hell, you might be that guy in a few years. Just don't let negativaty and nay sayers run your life. FWIW. This profession is a hard row to hoe but there are alot worse jobs. One of my AE 8 yr FO friends still says "it beats working for a living" Now ofcourse hes joking but if you have worked in construction or other laborous work it almost is true. We get to fly planes for a living. Most people only dream about such things. Its all about perspective.
Fly4Pay
New Member
I also like what an AA captain told an FO friend of mine there....
"If you keep your FE wife and your FO house, you have a shot at keeping your captain's retirement!"
Seriously, this is where a lot of guys blow it in life, and this profession is no different. Live within your means, or even better, below your means. Downturns, pay cuts, and furloughs are very common in this business. No matter what pay level you're at, don't expect it to last. Just because you're making $150k today doesn't mean you can afford the $450k house.
Also, when looking at the numbers for pay, remember that airlines pay you the same whether you live in California or Georgia. What seems like low pay in one place may be quite livable in another. And, what seems like the jackpot may turn out to be peanuts if you move somewhere close to domicile and it turns out to be expensive. Take ALL of that into account when planning the financial side of things.
And on top of all that, take into account the most important thing--do you enjoy it. I took an even bigger pay cut than PCL_128 to start at AirTran, but it's worth it. I'm liking life a LOT better than I used to. And because I do, my wife does. And my kids. And that's worth more than the paycheck.
Avalon781ML
Well-Known Member
LMAO...... too true.... you might also want to add a slight lapse in pay for those inevitable strikes or furloughs...
kids are expensive
marriages are expensive
divorce lawyers are expensive
child support is expensive
repeat above in that order
then you have:
alcohol
strip clubs
cigarettes
Or you might make that your first year out of school in lots of professions.
moxiepilot
Well-Known Member
Your first few years you may make little money, so 9 out of 10 people are probably accurate.
20k is about right for the first few years as a CFI and then entry level job after CFIing
Don't get too frusterated, just plan plan plan
OnTheFly7
Well-Known Member
This may be true. However, show me one of those jobs that starts you at that pay level and provides yearly increases like aviation does.
As it was stated by SD3Dog, most who have worked real world jobs and transitioned into aviation, will take the good with the bad and in my opinion, handle the bad much better than those who went from the party life to the professional cockpit.
It's all in how each individual looks at it, however, DO NOT think $100,000 incomes are as rampant as most suggest.
thepedroid
Well-Known Member
if you're lucky. Name me one profession that guarantees you that you'll even make 60K out of college... How many people do you know that came out of college going into the professional world as an intern? The reality is most professions take a few years to get to that level.
wheelsup
Well-Known Member
In todays environment newly minted commercial pilots and CFI's have it really good. I get mailings from Pan Am and ERAU all the time inviting me to come interview. $50k at PanAm, ERAU is offering free tuition and MEI, full benefits, if I remember correctly a few years ago you started off making $15 and change, and pretty much everyone worked 40+ hours a week, which when you add together the free tuition the entire benefit package is pretty good, all for being a CFI.
This is really the issue. Americans have the lowest savings of almost every country in the world. I am still trying to discipline myself, but pretty much I spend what I make. Its amazing at how much different that number is, yet when I look back my QOL didn't change that much. Granted I have never made more than $3500 in my best month.
-Jason
Schinpop
Well-Known Member
Electrical engineers can easily pull down 60K or more their first year out of college.
You only wanted one, right?
:yeahthat:
Every one of my friends with an engineering degree is being offered at minimum 45k.
Everyone else is offered sales job that they have the potential to make more but usually have low base pay. There commission also doesn't start kicking in for the first half year or so, but after that they seem to do quite well.
Money should be on the list when considering aviation as a profession, but you need to ask yourself on high on your list it is. If making money based on your performance is very important you may become a bitter pilot.
I am all about making as much cash as I can, but flying airplanes and having more than 2 weeks vacation are much more important. If you work m-f 8-6, do you know how hard it is to get your laundry, groceries, exercise, bank etc done?
-Jason
Every one of my friends with an engineering degree is being offered at minimum 45k.
Everyone else is offered sales job that they have the potential to make more but usually have low base pay. There commission also doesn't start kicking in for the first half year or so, but after that they seem to do quite well.
Money should be on the list when considering aviation as a profession, but you need to ask yourself on high on your list it is. If making money based on your performance is very important you may become a bitter pilot.
I am all about making as much cash as I can, but flying airplanes and having more than 2 weeks vacation are much more important. If you work m-f 8-6, do you know how hard it is to get your laundry, groceries, exercise, bank etc done?
-Jason
Minnesota_Flyer
New Member
I'm not sure "easily" is accurate. Possibly, maybe. Average starting salary for EEs is only about $54k.
http://www.collegejournal.com/salarydata/engineering/engineering.html
The more important question is do you want to be an EE or a pilot? Money is nice, but it doesn't make up for spending 40-50 hours/weeks in a job you don't enjoy.
Take out a little bit of money ON paycheck Friday then live off whats left over. Sucks for the first paycheck or two but you wouldnt even notice it after that.
NEWBY101
New Member
Low expectations? You have got to be kidding me! One person tells me not to fly because of the money, another tells me TO fly because of the money. That comment just pissed me off! I want to fly because I want to fly, but, again, it would be nice to be able to eat while I'm doing it and if I get conflicting answers when I fist start this career, then don't you think its wise for me to ask questions? thats why I posted this! Not so some person can't bad mouth me because I don't already know everything that they might! So please try to represent your profession a little better than some guy that has absolutly no patience with a brand new member of thier community.