Originally Posted by
dojetdriver
So I guess you're OK with a pilot making "average" household income. Hooray for you, I hope you don't have aspirations of being on the NC at ANY airline
And I'll repeat it for your, over 9 years as a 121 pilot. 3 of those years exceeded 50K, 2 at just above 20k, the others in between. I can live a life just fine on 36k a year, NEVER lived above it. I'll ask you AGAIN, what should a pilot be making?
See my first response in this post. For those like you that think it's OK for a pilot should make as much, or less than a garbage man, please, stay off your airline's NC.
Do, with all due respect - and I mean that, you obviously have more experience than I do as a pilot and I respect that - I am not stating that pilot pay is acceptable.
A pilot should make more than a garbage man, for the record. I never stated otherwise.
My only point here is twofold:
1. MANY have suffered due to the recession. Been laid off, pay cuts, etc. Pilots are susceptible to this as much anyone. Business slows down, some folks have to go. The airline system is seniority based, thus the whole list drops down a notch. Love it or hate it, its the way it works.
2. Regardless of the ideal scene we all hope for, the real one is quite different. In the real world, as much as it sucks (I have never advocated otherwise), one must be smart about dealing with this profession. An upgrade earned needs to be approached carefully until enough junior captains get on the line to shield you. Exactly how many will suffice is a personal judgment.
We could go into all the ins and outs of the problem. My point is merely to state the problem exists and to plan accordingly until it improves.
BTW, to whomever asked about US medium income, it is $50,233 as of 2007.