Originally Posted by
FlyerJosh
BB,
You're right, 85K is a lot of money - but not to fly a Global Express. (By comparison, my compensation package is close to that to fly a CITATION).
Folks who accept jobs flying equipment for "sub-standard" pay cut themselves short. More importantly, they under cut pilots who have negotiated higher tier pay for themselves. Fortunately that trend has yet to really make it over into the corporate world. Some things that have ensured this are the fact that some hiring managers (CP's) don't want pilots who low ball the figures (it doesn't look good for their own 6 figure salaries). It also helps that many flight departments keep their salary figures under lock and key.
As to what I'm going to do to make the salaries more suitable? Education is key. Teaching entry level pilots that they are worth more than what they think is the first line. Many guys flying in light aircraft come out of training thinking "Wow! The first paycheck to fly... AND IT'S A JET! I've been paying 200/hr to rent a Seminole - Just pay me anything! After all building experience/flight time is payment itself!"
I'd really love to see that attitude go away. Like I said before- Don't sell yourself short. There are MANY variables in determining what a pilot is worth, but make sure that when you're going into an interview, you have a good idea of what the pay scale ranges are for the aircraft you're interviewing in.
Alright, I'll give you the benefit of the doubt, in the corporate world. But I can't go into an interview with Mesa, PSA, United, UPS or FedEx and negotiate pay because I think I'm worth more than they're telling me. Sure, I think I'm worth at least 65K for the first year flying RJ but is that going to happen? Not on my life! They'll laugh at me and ask the next guy to come in for an interview. I'm in no position right now to be asking for any salaries because I'll just be starting out in a few months.
Education is the key, you're dead on! But what are you doing yourself, actively to up the salaries? What techniques, letters written, etc... What is it that the pilots have to do to up the salaries? If the next guy being hired at Mesa is going to be undercutting the next guy up, what is he suppose to do? Not fly at all? I am all ears here because it sounds like you're telling me not to take any job if it doesn't pay well enough. Ultimately I'm going to make my own decision here but if you have advice on how I can go and get my first job with the pay I want, I'd love to hear it!! Because last I checked, the airlines DO NOT NEGOTIATE!