NowCorporate

Try living in any major metro area on less....its not practical unless you dont mind renting, living with your parents, living like $hit, etc...most of that wears off after about age 25.

Even in cheaper areas (Midwest, South etc) the nice neighborhoods are expensive. I always laugh when someone justifies a lower salary because the area is cheaper....then they proceed to whine about the high taxes, lack of jobs, hick neighbors, need for private schools, etc.

Sorry, I don't want to live in the hood....be it in LA, NYC or St Louis.

BoilerUP

$150k takes you a HELL of a lot further in flyover country (even midwest metros) than it does on either coast. Even in fairly large cities like Columbus, Chicago, Indy, Nashville, St. Louis, KC, Dallas, Denver, etc. an income of $150k will have you in a nice home in a good neighborhood with very good public schools driving nice cars, with plenty of $$$ left over. That is, unless you act like a typical pilot with your money...

That said, there are a HELL of a lot more flying jobs on either coast than in flyover country even midwest metros).

Everything is a tradeoff...

NowCorporate

I just looked at a job in one of those cities....and know the area a bit. They only places I would live have the same exact housing prices as suburban NY, and higher taxes and far less jobs...now add in the culture vacuum, etc..No Thanks. They can't fill the position (with what they want) at 200K salary and a generous moving package. Reason? location. They can't get anyone to move.

One can certainly live on 150K, but you aren't living great by any means. Then again, we're pilots?

I'm all for living where you want, as that's the most important thing, but its hard to move away from the jobs, any yes...there seems to be more on the coasts...I'd rather be on 200 acres in the mountains, just don't see it happening....yet.

NavyAviator

Ok. Assuming average G-V pay is enough, what I’d like to know from the G-V guys is what their sked/time away fm home is like? I'm retiring this year and considering the +/-'s of corp vs 121 (or other) and the problem I keep coming up against with corp is that to get paid descent (see assumption above) you have to go big, like with the G-V's. No shock there, and true, to get paid descent in 121 ops it's usually the same (SWA excluded), but 121 time off seems more predictable and with seniority more likely. The intel I keep getting about large corp jet drivers is that it's not predictable, it's usually across the pond (that's why the corp bought a G-V after all), and because of that you're gone a LOT. Probably more than the 121 pilot in any fleet size. From what I’m reading here, perhaps this is not your experience? Agree or disagree?

Truthfully, I think I would like the type/variety of corp ops over 121, but I’ve got a family and I’d like to keep it. I’d like to work in a place where I can know my sked far enough in advance (and that it won’t usually change the night prior against my will) that I can count on going to important family events. I definitely don’t want to be gone more than a 121 pilot. Where can I be home most nights with the most pay? 121 or corp? And to be clear again, I’m ok with 150K.

The dude

That's why there's a "high" and "low" end of the salary survey numbers. Any corporate pilot living in an area with higher than average cost of living should be demanding higher than average pay. Ideally, a GV captain living in LA or NYC shouldn't be making 150k a year, they should be making 180k. I know of Gulfstream guys in California clearing in excess of 200k a year. Not saying it always happens that way but in a perfect world it should. That being said, there's always a short sided wh@re willing to fly your airplane for less than you are to get a type rating or hours. Pilots are our own worst enemies.

NowCorporate

Nobody can answer this. It varies too much.

I can tell you that my previous job, corporate Fortune 10, averaged about 8 RONs a month with 13 days of work. One crew (20+ pilots) was weekend duty, everyone else was free...unless on a trip of course.

My current Part 91 small corp job averages somewhat less. We are well staffed and pick our time off and just assure that the plane is covered. Its gets no better (IMHO)

I do know some corporate outfits (small and large) who work like dogs with no real schedule. Don't let the "hard day" thing fool you....you may get 3-4 a month and work the other 26. If they cant share an entire department schedule with you during an interview, be afraid. If it seems like a touchy subject, you can imagine how bad it is.

I'm not sure many corporate outfits can give you as firm a schedule as an airline, but I can also tell you every airline pilot I know works harder than me and I would never trade my schedule for theirs.

Good luck in your decision!

USMCFLYR

I make less than $150k, live in the central part of the US, and depending on YOUR definition of great, I'm doing just that.
That statement seems a little harsh to me.

USMCFLYR

NowCorporate

That statement was harsh?....

Very true, its all subject to what one wants/needs.

Some are thrilled to be making 75K and flying a jet and just feel lucky to climb in a cockpit and have a job. Some look at flying as a paycheck and a lot of time off and wont do it for less than 2X that....I can only relate to what I know, and much less than that is not acceptable to me...but I certainly don't care what anyone works for.

RJSAviator76

Don't get me wrong, I'm all for high(er) pay. You and I agree on many things, but I gotta disagree with you when you say you live like sh*t in CA if you make less than 150k.

I lived in O.C. in a nice beach neighborhood on less than 150k and lived like a king. I rented by choice (real estate prices made absolutely no sense and saw the bust coming), the house I own (out of CA) I had rented out, I drove 2 cars, and enjoyed a nice, active middle-class lifestyle with my family.

It really is a matter of perspective and how smart one is with their money.

USMCFLYR

I read it as basically saying that since I make less than $150k then I am not living a "great life"

I disagree. I'm very happy with my life

I imagine that you are probably very happy to making twice that as you said.
What if a guy making a million a year came on and said that he thought you were living like a pauper because you made less than $300,000/year. Wouldn't you just shake your head?

I look forward to the day when I do make $150,000/year - but it doesn't control my happiness!

USMCFLYR