Cape Air pay is actually pretty good when you consider all the options.
If you work for a regional and you commute to work; I'm assuming you are gone from home around 4 days a week. This in my twisted mind equates to being away from my family for 96 hours a week. As a Captain you may make 45,000 a year at Colgan, is this a fair guess?
At Cape Air with just 50 duty hours a week, first year pay, and you are home every night you would make: 40/hrs X 12.80/hr X 52 weeks = 26,624 plus overtime 10/hrs X 19.20/hr X 52 weeks = 9,984. This is comes to 36,608 for your first year. 50 duty hours a week is only 5 days at 10 hrs per day, you still get 2 off per week and you are home.
If you go to the Caribbean for the winter, helps to be single, you can make more money. 26 weeks (North) 50 hours a week is 18,340. Caribbean pay with override is 40/hrs X 15.80/hr X 26 weeks = 16,432. 10/hrs OT X 23.70/hr X 26 weeks = 6,162. This comes to 40,934 for first year. You get a 4000 pre tax bonus to go the Caribbean now I'm at 44,934 for first year. There is a two season bonus for a season in New England and a season in the Caribbean another 600, now I'm at 45,534.
I know this is a lot of work 50 hours per week, but it can add up.
My last year on the line and a staying in New England all year, working 5 days a week for 12 hours a day (M-F), weekends off, I made 84,000. This was including 6,000 training pay, no bonuses, 6th year payscale.
Cape Air may not get you the turbine time you desire, but you certainly can make a decent living, and be home every night. I enjoy my dinner's at home with my wife and kids, every night. The people you work with are second to none, and the flying is a blast.
There are some programs in the works for future career development with Cape Air. When the deals are made Cape Air may really become the road to the "heavy airframes" some desire.
Time is usually a good judge of the decisions we make. We can all have the hanger talk about what is the best path to take, I for one, enjoy being home.
I hope all of us can be happy with the choices we make.
The Sack