Originally Posted by
Dan64456
Or how about this life...
Get up, get shower, brush teeth, get dressed, TRY to eat breakfast, sit in traffic, walk to train, sit on train, walk to work, get to work, get coffee, sit down in cubicle, sit down in cubicle, sit down in cubicle... wait you are still sitting down in the cubicle. listen to the gossip/politics goin on around you.. hear about how your job can be outsourced to India if they wanted to, deal with the co worker that doesn't do any work and pawns it off on you, and makes more money than you... deal with the CEO's kid or relative that is dumber than a brick despite his fully paid for education, watch them move up around you to higher positions because of their last name, while you remain the same, and sit in the cubicle... wait that 23 year old got a corner office now? Yup you are still in the cubicle. Time to go home yet? finally. walk to train, sit on train, walk to car, sit in traffic, walk to house, sit down fighting the urge to pass out... argue with the wife b/c you are ****y and miserable from the day… go to bed, get up, repeat. 5 days a week every week. Only 1 - 4 day weekend per year (thanks giving). 99% of the rest of the time, its 5 on, 2 off. Oh, don't let me forget about the select favorites that get work from home privileges, when you don't or wont... Despite the fact that you BUILT THE FKN VPN.
As is the life of most people I know working in non-aviation jobs. 8-10+ hrs a day, 5-6 days a week, constantly the same routine everyday, with not much outlook for promotion/ advancement, and making no more than an RJ captain, in some cases, no more than a 2nd year regional FO. To each his own, but the grass is NOT always greener ... not even close.
Originally Posted by
AirWillie
Not to be a downer but I was attempting to do a reality check. The fact that someone is still considering getting into this profession with a family and kids off all things, is missing something. Not all of us will be Delta FOs anytime soon, which even then pay is not nearly enough. You can make 50-85k per year easily on other professions especially if you have a degree.
He is going to start flight training, that will cost 40-50K, I'd use that money for an MBA or your kids college fund.
What is the difference between a regional captain making $70K/year and enjoying their job, and someone being an accountant, or some other job, making the same $70K. Sure airline flying is a different life style, but for some, it is a life style they enjoy. I think people go overboard with all of this pay stuff. If you really look at the salaries that an average pilot is making, it isn't any different than the non-aviation jobs that are out there. I get tired of this BS that seems to imply that pilots make peanuts their whole career. I know plenty of people who would kill just to make the salary that an RJ captain makes. According to ALPA, the average RJ captain with 5 years longevity makes just over $70K/year, compared to the average american, who makes $40K. Could pay be better? Yes. Is it THAT bad? No. First year pay, is first year pay, and yes, it sucks, but it does get better. You have to start somewhere, and that is the case in no matter what career you look at.
To each his own, but I know plenty of happy pilots, and plenty of people miserable in their non-aviation jobs. It goes both ways.