Originally Posted by ChrisH

You are exactly right. It is an "appeal" thing. It is much more fun to fly an airplane than work on plumbing. But I don't think the $65K is spent on an $18K per year job. I think it is spent on the hopes that they will one day get to the "good life as a pilot", and be a SWA, UPS, FedEx, etc., captain.

Some people, and some jobs, unfortunately, involve some lower pay, and rough times starting off. Someone who goes into medical school to become a doctor has to start off as an intern. They will work many 12+ hour shifts, for little pay, and still be in $100K+ debt from medical school. The pay off in the end is good, but so can be the case with a pilot, when/if you get to the majors. And, a $75-$80K regional captain salary ain't that bad either. As mentioned earlier by Baja, can you buy a $1.1 million house with that? No. But, it is still a good salary, and plenty of people live on those salaries and less.

I know a guy who I work with now who is about to graduate college with a business degree in marketing. He wants to work in sports marketing. He applied for a job, that really is an internship, for after he graduates, working for a state golf association. Starting pay; $17K per year. Sure he could find something paying more, but so can a pilot. Those pilots who start flying corporate, or charter, instead of regionals, typically make a good bit more than a first year regional FO.

The airlines business is all about risks. Does the risk mean that pay should also help compensate for that risk? Sure. But a doctor can just as easily lose his license, and be in the same situation. The same can go for other careers. I can take what I am majoring in now, and go be a database analyst with some company and eventually make $80K per year. In fact, my aunt does just that. But, I would rather take the risk, and work my way to being a regional captain making $80K per year. And, if I am one day lucky enough to make it the majors, like UPS, or SWA, and be making $150K+ per year, than even better.

I wish you all the luck with your business, and I hope it continues to do well. You seem to like it very much. I think everybody has to just do what they like, and what appeals to them.