Originally Posted by
ChrisH
Like I said, it depends on your situation. A family of six would have a lower middle class lifestyle in a west coast city. But, a family of 2 or 4 would be a little better off. What about those based in Georgia, or Texas, or Tennessee, because the fly for ExpressJet, ASA, etc. I was in training recently in a major airline hub up north. I was talking with a lady about home prices in the area (she lived there). Prices there were actually cheaper than you can find them here in the south, at least where I live.
Again, it just all depends on your situation. But, I still add that people aren't making more than pilots, in general. I was looking up average salaries of jobs the other day, and was actually surprised to see that there are a number of jobs that you can expect to earn more in Indiana, and Georgia, than in California. Also, one option pilots have, although many complain about it, is commuting. Where I live now, is actually a one hour flight from a majority of the regional, and major hubs, with numerous flights per day. This adds to it depending on your situation. In other words, someone doesn't have to live smack dab in the middle of LAX.
Well you seem to think that you have got it all figured out. Your next step is to head for a flight school. You seem to be focused mostly on the end results. I hope you carefully consider the sacrifices and difficulties and time it will take to reach that magical 70K. Things are good at the regionals now however like everything it will not last. By the time you get there the prospects most likely will be very different.
SkyHigh
By the way have you completed the calculations that I mentioned?
In addition my kids started back to school last week and I had a lot of paperwork to fill out on their behalf. I noticed on one of the forms that the cut off for a family of four to receive free school lunches is 55K of income per year and we live in a small farm town far from the city. Most other government assistance starts at 53k for a family of four.