Originally Posted by
BoilerUP
Gov't job - probably as secure a flying job as any, probably most holidays & weekends off (and most nights at home), probably with decent health care and a pension. That said, its probably a more political position (by its governmental nature) so you'll probably have to know how to "not rock the boat".
If you're happy with the offered compensation I'd say take the state job and be done with it...
A pilot would not be a "political position" any more than a janitor would. Your job would be to fly, which has nothing to do with state politics. Odds are good you would have minimal interaction with the pax, and any conversations would be generic in nature (weather, family, football, etc).
As a civil servant you would have far greater job security than any part 91 pilot, and junior 121 pilots. Except for very senior executive jobs, civil servants cannot be fired on a whim, and even legitimate poor performance requires so much hassles, due process, and documentation that it is easier to just leave the slacker in place. Unlike corporate, the boss can't fire you if he doesn't like the way you comb your hair, or if a prettier pilot happens to come along.
If the state budget is in bad shape, an aviation department would be an obvious cost-cutting target. But if they are hiring NOW...odds are that their budget couldn't get much worse.