Originally Posted by
higney85
Bingo- there are plenty of things in the contract that are worth alot in the QOL dept. Money is always nice but its not the whole shebang. First year pay is really low, but what I would want to see more is a bigger hop in pay come second year.
As far as doctor pay, how long do you pay dues? In the regional world you have the time until you make captain before you make Ok money.. Thats what 2-3 years minimum! Plus the time before you get a regional after your initial ratings- another 2 years or so? 5 years is a pretty long dues period before you can hit $60K... These are obviously my views/opinions so lets not start a flame war- but last I heard from talking to a doc was by 5 years after med school you have already been doing OK for yourself. Please correct me if I am wrong- I know how much I hate the common stereotype that pilots are making bank from the beginning...
I think there are exceptions to all rules. I currently make great money right out of college as a CFI.
However you say 5 yrs is hard to make decent money? Think of how much more schooling. One of my good friends is a dermatologist. She went to college then med school, then had to do an internship, then got a job working for the prison system, now runs her own practice after the local doctor retired. She moved very fast by standards and she did not start her own practice until the age of 30. She started when 18 just like the rest of us going to college.
I graduated at 23. CFI making decent money at 24. Regional at 25 (should be). Figure 3yrs there before moving on. Possibly less. That puts me at 27-28. So look at a payscale for an airline or company like fedex or ups and look at 2nd year pay. It's not bad. Not saying one is better than the other. Just people think all doctor's, lawyers, pilots, ect. make serious cash. Maybe when older but not many right out of school. I know some CAN make more. But general thoughts are they dont.