Originally Posted by
theclaw
Pilot pay in the regionals is still $hit for the type of work it is regardless of raises. No captain of an airline jet should be making less than 100K starting salary. The amount of responsibility and technical knowledge required is very high and requires a lot of work. It's you and your FO up there, nobody else. Yet most regional captains make what the average nurse makes. Don't even get me started on this FO pay.
FO here. I make 60k+, without much effort (i.e. I don't pick up very much open time, if any). I'm not underpaid. If I'm a Captain making 80k, I also will not be underpaid. The market seems to agree.
The mechanic fixing our engines is responsible for the lives on the plane. A lot of them don't make 100k... A nurse is responsible for many lives each shift. And let's be real, many new-ish nurses are in the 50k-60k range -- I earn more than my nurse friends/spouse.
A bus driver crashes, kills 35 kids. Makes maybe 20k. Lot of lives in his hands there... (yes, little technical skill/knowledge required thus the 20k salary, but the "lives in the hands" argument pertains)
Airline pilots DO require technical knowledge, I agree. But said knowledge can be obtained in a year; no college required. That's a fact. Sure, nowadays we need to flight instruct, etc. for an extra year or two, but the base knowledge acquisition can take place in a 180 day + 90 day program at ATP flight school.
I wish I made more, believe me. And I will fight for any compensation and QOL improvements for the WHOLE group when the chances come up in a union vote. But I also am aware that I make more than the average US resident by a large amount. I have no odd illusions about demanding minimum 100k compensation my first year as a Captain of a regional jet. Besides, with a bit of OT pick up I might get pretty close anyway...