I was an RJ puke for the best part of 9 years here and then moved back to Oz to fly for Virgin for over 5 years. Been back in the US&A now for just over 2 years at a Legacy.
My advice...don't do it. The pay sounds far better when you compare AU$ to US$ but the cost of living is unlike anything you'll have experienced here in the US. Unless you're used to Manhattan or The Bay Area.
Here are the figures...
3rd year 737 FO...AU$150k (FO's top out at 3rd year)
Yearly Tax...AU$40k
I'd be doing my command training now if I hadn't left. So 7 years to command and on AU$220k but paying AU$80k in taxes. A new hire now would wait around 15 years at best.
Weekly food bill...AU$250-300 for 2 people.
Weekly rent...AU$650. One bedroom apt in Sydney
Gas..AU1.50/ltr...around AU$5.60/gal
Daycare...AU$150/day or about AU$1000/month for 3 days a week.
Car tax...AU$1200/year
Utilities(Gas/Electric)...AU$500/qtr
Cell phones x2...AU$300/month
Average house price in excess of AU$ 1million.
Etc,etc
All in all we paid around AU$480000 for 5 years of taxes and rent. And for most of that time the AU$ was on parity with the US$.
Last edited by Kenny; 10-11-2017 at 09:21 AM.