Perhaps so, but with the MEDIAN home in King County selling for $828k, it does give you some idea as to how long it will take you to earn enough to have a good house in a good neighborhood with a good school district.

https://www.seattlemet.com/home-and-...ond-washington

First year FO pay sure isn’t going to hack it.

I’ve started the interview process I figure I’d give 121 a try after 6 years 135 in bush AK. Is the QOL and lifestyle at AS so terrible that I’m making a mistake? “Pretty bad place to work” is quite an intimidating statement

After 6 years 135 in bush AK I got the call from AS. Is QOL and lifestyle so truly unbearable that I’m making a mistake? “It's a pretty bad place to work. No kidding.“ is quite an intimidating statement. I still live near ANC and don’t plan on moving. Would it be so terrible with an ANC base?

I would start with asking you what your expectations are. What do you want out of your next job? Are you okay with reserve for a while as an FO? Will you be happy flying only one aircraft type for the rest of your career? How many and what days off do you want? Do you need a lot of schedule flexibility? If your needs are low in these categories, you will be fine here. If you camp out in the right seat, your life will improve at a pretty good pace. If you want to upgrade, that will take some time and then you will be on reserve for a long time. Again, things to consider. Our next contract will improve things some but base your decision on current work conditions.

It it also might not be a horrible risk to consider the likely impending contract improvements... AS could become a somewhat more selective airline if the union hits it out of the park on that. Buy in low, so to speak. The overwhelming strike vote shows some very real resolve, which by all accounts hasn't existed in the past.

But there's obvious risk in any speculative venture... lot's of things could go wrong.

Also the big three are not quite at the point where they are hiring any and all small airplane 91/135 pilots, they still like mil and 121... the guy's phone may not be ringing off the hook. I don't think the big three have an ANC base, and I think FDX can still be picky. Commuting ANC -LAX for life is just like a transcon commute for life.

I see you've never met me and my stock market strategy.

Take the job. See if you like it.

Things do suck, especially on the QOL and schedule flexibility side of things, but if we get a great contract, that could turn around significantly.

If it ends up that the new contract is not that great, or you just don't like the fit, now, more than ever, is a great time to collect a type rating and burnish your qualifications in order to move on to another airline.

For a pilot that lives in ANC and flies mostly or entirely in the state then riding the right seat of a 737 for Alaska Airlines is a step-up. Better pay, better schedule, better retirement. Far cry from UPS or FedEx. But a good place to put some polish on a resume if a major airline is your goal.

I hear it takes a bit of time now to get back to ANC.

Currently six months to a year.