Originally Posted by SharkyBN584
I have several friends that work airport operations/safety. It's a pseudo-government job since it's usually for an airport authority so the benefits and schedule are nice and the pay isn't too bad once you get your time in there. I also have friends that are in airport consulting which is a LOT more lucrative, but the work is a lot more demanding. I have a friend whose an airport manager for a Class C airport and he makes more than most major airline pilots and they all did it with aviation degrees. I personally would try to use the airport planning/design portion of my degree if I couldn't fly anymore...
A guy I know a guy who changes the lightbulbs at an airport and earns 85K. To me even though these jobs are associated with aviation they really are not in the same insustry. An airport manager could also manage a factory or Dairy Queen. A maintenence tech could work at a dam or for the highway department. Just because a persons place of work is at the airport I don't think puts them in aviation.
Skyhigh