Originally Posted by
Delta1067
What airline starts at $15,000 a year. I made $26,000 my 1st year at a regional and that was back in 1997. Don't 2nd year FO's at most regionals make close to $40 at most regionals these days? Not saying it shouldn't be more but for a job not requiring a degree good luck making $40,000 if you are 20 years old and have no degree. If you wasted $150K at UND or ERAU than that is your own fault. There are much cheaper ways to do it.
In 1997, I made about 22k instructing ($9/hour, 160 hours/month, with $400/month for office duties). At that time, published regional minimum guarantee was equal to or less than that. A 1900 job ranged between 12k and 16k (corrected for inflation they are 17.2k and 23k). I remember distinctly because I asked my coworkers why they were willing to take a pay cut to fly something bigger. Instead, I took a job flying a 208 full of boxes for 24k (34k corrected).
The 1900 rates published now are 14.4 to 15.7k. Effectively that is roughly 20% less than in 1997. Even 30ish seat TP rates at 15.7 to 20.7 are 10% lower than the old 1900 rate.
Interestingly, Caravan rates have stayed fairly flat. Mountain Air (who is always hiring) starts 'Van drivers at 34.4k.
Originally Posted by
Delta1067
I never said it did but no matter how you look at it I look at it as money coming in, aka as income. When you do your monthly budget to you not factor in per diem as money coming in to offset expenses? No matter what your job is you have to eat and food is rarely free no matter where you work. I probably eat free more than my friends who have normal day jobs. Rarely pay for a meal unless its on a layover. Also, I get a huge tax write off each year by itemizing my per diem. 1st year pay at most regionals is around $23/hour so that over $20K, not $15K. Not sure why people arguing the low pay always have to embellish and exaggerate it.
No. I plan my budget for guarantee. That is all I am assured of earning, and sitting reserve there were several months that was about all I got.
Not sure why people arguing about low pay always have to talk about how much they made "back in my day."