Hmmm...not sure I agree with you. At Colgan I made $23K my first year, $48K my second as a captain for a two year total of $71k...compared to your $70k? And after just 2 1/2 years at Colgan I've applied to SWA, AirTran, and CAL...because I have the turbine PIC time.

My point is regional pay, with a couple of exceptions, is about the same across the board. Chose a regional for other reasons than pay.


I also spent 15 years working in Fortune 500 business. My average workweek was Mon - Saturday morning, 55-70 hours total with an additional three to six hours at home in the evenings - about 240 hours a month. I traveled on business five to eight days a month. It took 11 years to get to a low six-figure salary, with the first seven years not earning more than $65k annually...and I was in IT in Silicon Valley for the last eight years. During that time my positions were "eliminated" three times WITHOUT REGARD TO SENORITY. The first two times I was able to find a new position within the company I was with within a very long month. The last time my position was "eliminated" I was in senior management and totally burnt. I took my six weeks severance (for 8 years service) and became a pilot. Today I work far less at something I love, with much more time off. I see more of my wife. I don't take work home, I don't have a "report" or "presentation" due tomorrow, I don't have to worry about my annual review. Today I work for an airline that makes money. I have two-thirds of the seniority list below me, which means I'd have to do something really stupid or the company would have to pretty much fail for me to lose my job. Yes, I make 60% of what I used to make, but that salary is rising and if I'm lucky and make it to a major, I'll make more than I used to make in business. I live comfortably in an area with much lower costs of living than before.

Needless to say, I love what I do now. It has been worth it. Call me biased but you couldn't pry me out of my pilot seat with dynamite.