Dontknow

What about someone with a degree and MBA but is only making $30K a year currently? Does the career switch make sense then?

rickair7777

Yes. But you should consider why you're only making $30K with an MBA. Success in aviation will require some work ethic, motivation, and people skills.

atpcliff

Most people will be happier if they do something with their lives that they enjoy.

I am an airline pilot, and it is my fourth career. I was out of flying for 10 years, while I did careers #2 and #3. I have the most days off, make the most money, have the best family life, and enjoy my job the most as an airline pilot. It has taken me a while to get a job I like, and I had some flying jobs that were not great at all.

I think the advice about keeping your high paying job while you build your 1500 hours is good advice, and buying a plane to get the hours is also great advice.

Another option is the many "cadet"-type programs that are now in existence, and can be read about on this message boards. There are many programs that cost MUCH LESS than the JetBlue program, and can get you flying a lot quicker.

UAL has a program with Lufthansa. You need your CFI (CFII???). You apply to UAL/LH and fly as an instructor for the LH cadet students in AZ. After you get your 1500 hours, then you go directly to UAL. You will have to stay as a narrow-body pilot for 5? years, then you can bid into widebody. This track eliminates the need to fly for a regional.

If you want to stay living where you are, getting the 1500 hours, and then flying, based locally, for whichever organization can get you the most hours quickly, is probably the best way to get to the majors while living where you want to.

The Pilot Shortage is getting worse and worse. This is probably THE BEST time in aviation history to get into flying.

Namaste...

PS-If you have questions, please feel free to PM me.

PRS Guitars

Yes, this makes more sense. The issue with the Doctor is he has way, way more earning potential as a doctor. Additionally, he probably has stundent debt to go with it and really needs the income to knock that out.

I’m with Rick, why are you only making $35k after getting your MBA? Doesn’t seem like a very good ROI on the degree. I recommend getting your income up (like at least double) and cash flowing your pilot training (unless you have family wealth or parents footing the bill, then just get going in a wham bam thank you ma’am program.)

Others will be along shortly to tell you to use loans and get it done ASAP, but I don’t think the reward is worth the risks involved, especially if you have debt from the MBA.

Dontknow

Because I live in the most economically depressed area of the country where even doctors barely make $100k. I have all of the above, that's not the issue. I am responsible for over $45 million in assets at the company I work for now. The median income in my area is $22k a year. Hopefully that helps paint the picture.

Dontknow

I have the money to pay outright. The issue on making the money is that I moved back to where I grew up to help a family member with illness. I was making over $85k a year and have money saved. I would also advise anyone thinking of getting a MBA that if you already have a business related degree, it is a terrible ROI. However, the company I worked for paid for mine so it didn't cost me anything. So now that I am no longer taking care of that person, I'd like to do what I actually wanted to do.

I just hear bad things about every way to get there and don't know which way is the best.

PRS Guitars

Sweet! Go for it then. You’re exactly the kind of person that can do this, and it makes sense. When (if) you instruct, consider being an independent contract instructor. You’re MBA will be somewhat useful in the sense that you are your own entity, and you’ll make a lot more money (you could double your current income as a CFI, if you do it right). Also consider the AF reserves/guard if you’re young enough.

MKUltra

So this career is a second career for me.. my last year in my other career i made about twice what the radiologist is making without stocks and bonus and ownership of the company that we sold on top of that.. the company was a large manufacturing business of 500 employees, valued at 1 billion and I was an executive at 31 years old.

I gave it all up.. I hated my job.. I hated the people.. I hated the 7 days 24 hours 365.. I hated being on the phone with China at midnight.. Germany at 4am.. my plant briefings at 8 am... I slept in my office about 5 nights a week.. had a 5000 square foot house abs I probably only spent 30 nights in my bed between being here, China and Germany... I had an extremely expensive scotch habit...

Ive been in the airlines 3 years now... I love it.. I made 120k last year as a captain.. started a side gig 3 years ago and supplemented my airline salary by 50k and work on my time in the hotels when i get around to it.

Next year ill flow to mainline.. no one calls me... no one makes me work when i don't want too.. airline pilot is the best and easiest job I've ever had. I'd rather eat nails than go back to An office job.

I basically feel like this career is my retirement now and I'm enjoying every minute of it.

bamike

Working in a huge corporation I can understand what you’re talking about, especially the endless meetings and conference calls. How old were you when you made the switch? Walking away from a job that makes 800k or more a year to make 120k is a huge hit, even if it is a retirement for you. How did you make that work?

MKUltra

I was 35.. and actually went down to 16k the first year... I started to think i was Cray Cray... but right now.. I would do it all over again and again...

A lot of people I work with think I'm crazy... but I'm happy.. and that's all that matters.. I keep my qualifications and knowledge up on my other career so i can airways fall back in the event of a economic disaster. I still have 30 years of productivity left in my lifetime before I retire to the beach.