4 Year Degree Affecting Pay
 

I have heard that for some major airlines that if you have a 4 year degree pay is drastically better, I am wondering if this is true because for the flow through program, a degree is not required. But if the pay is a lot better, of course I would get it.

What an odd question. Once you are a pilot at an airline, there is no difference in what you are paid based on having a degree.

That being said, I would highly encourage you to obtain a 4 year degree. Even if you got it online while flying, it will open other avenues outside of the narrow path to a flow through.

If you come through the flow thru program a degree is not required. If you do not come through the flow thru it is highly unlikely you will get an interview without a degree. It is also highly unlikely to get an interview at the top tier airlines without one either. Having the degree or not makes no difference in pay though.

I'm always amazed at how little some pilots know about the industry.

He's a 19 year old kid...still learning. He's probably been told that people with a degree earn more over a lifetime, and took it literally instead of in the aggregate.

The pay is the same for all pilots. I understand pilots with degrees are processed last while on reserve and in RO. So that's a nice benefit of having your degree.

In one way you are correct. The doorways to get hired by a major without a 4 year college degree are very narrow. The old saying is your odds are between Slim and None, and Slim just left town. Realistically few pilots get hired by the majors without a 4 year college degree.

Get a 4 year college degree, pass the tests, and get the experience and you likely will get hired by a major. All pilots at a major get paid the same for the identical years, aircraft, and seat.

The average 4 year college degree pilots make a lot more than those without. Why? Because they get hired by the majors, and those without generally don't. Those without work for non-majors instead and thus get paid much less.

Go get your 4 year college degree. It doesn't have to be in rocket science (although you will find some pilots with an engineering degree), just get it in something, from an accredited university (i.e. not a diploma mill).

Keep in mind that flows are only as good as the next contract.

Both helpful AND classy.... nice job! 👍

Thank you for the information