Originally Posted by
zyttocs
Thanks guys. I'm not big on the regionals if I can avoid them only because at my age I don't have a whole lot of time to wait for the move to majors. Plus whatever move I make if from a $100k job so stepping down that far is very hard on the family. The reason I'm thinking of the big boys is because I would only have to take a step back on salary for a year and then the sky is the limit. Gama would be alright if I just wanted to maintain status quo.....just talking outloud you know.
If you can get in at 9E (you would), then you'd be taking a cut for two years, but you'd still clear at least $60K each year ($70K if you hustle a little), and you could be back to $100K as a captain when you upgrade. That's actual wages, too, not per diem/benefits/hotel value shenanigans.
I'm not saying 9E would be
the one, but I wouldn't write off the regionals for pay unless you've already done the research and know that it won't work.