Fatcat

Hello everyone, I'm stuck between choosing CM or airline piloting. In terms of pay, Qol, job satisfaction, and stability which career is the best option. Flying looks challenging and fun and Cm is pretty cool too. Any Thoughts? Thanks

usmc-sgt

I can’t say I’ve managed much construction lately, but flying planes is a good time.

Air Guitar

This is a pilot forum so views expressed can and will be biased. Maybe ask the same question on a construction forum and compare the feedback.

rickair7777

I think it's a bigger question than CM vs. flying.

It's a question of a more traditional lifestyle (do a lot of work in an office) but mostly M-F with weekends or holidays off, or pursue the unconventional lifestyle of airline aviation.

Fatcat

Hey Rick based on pay, Qol, and job security is CM the best choice or piloting please be honest.

123494

I’d go with construction management. It can open a lot of doors for you down the road. Work your way up in a good organization that does work across the country and you can make a very good living. Fly as a hobby if you want.

rickair7777

I can't answer that, it's something you have to decide.

CM could lead to becoming a contractor and making really big money, IF you like to work hard and network hard (and maybe break kneecaps). Whole different lifestyle than airline aviation.

But if you're more inclined to be a W2 wage earner your whole career, it doesn't get much better than aviation as far as pay and QOL. Medicine or law (some specialties) are about the only other broadly available options, although most lawyers work hard for their money.

If you're a real go-getter you might find aviation monotonous once you get to your ultimate job. The career itself actually tends to be more interesting while you're hustling to climb the ladder (although it can suck if you get stuck where you don't want to be). I'm more of a go-getter, but stayed in the military reserves as an outlet for that.

FDNYOldGuy

As others have stated, it's certainly an apples to oranges comparison of careers. I never worked in airlines or CM, so my thoughts are just from looking outside in. I am currently going through (military) pilot training and considering airlines, and I did get my grad degree in Real Estate Investment/Development and interviewed for a few CM jobs (housing development when I left undergrad and was crazily considering trying to work it part time in addition to my firefighter job after getting my grad degree). So, while I've never walked the walk, I've talked to a lot of folks in both fields and strongly looked into both jobs. And, being a fireman, we have to do a lot of building inspections, especially buildings under construction, so I've had a lot of interaction with CMs over the years.

That said, CM is going to be a "traditional" work week job of working in the same place 5(ish) days in a row and having a couple off. I put quotes around traditional, because it'll be daily, but it sure as hell won't be 9-5 or only M-F from 9-5. 12 hour days and 7 day work weeks can be routine to bring a project in on time and on budget. You're going to be in charge of a ton of different trades and moving pieces, trying to herd a bunch of cats from all different walks of life. It'll be a pretty intense, personally engaging, likely stressful kind of life, but it'll be awesome to drive by something that'll be there for decades and say, "I helped build that."

Being a pilot will be stressful in it's own right, but it seems like the stress reduces quite a bit when you get beyond initial training of learning to fly/get your certs/learn company procedures and get into your groove flying the line. You'll be working in smaller groups with much less stressful, face-to-face interaction daily. Your schedule will likely be a lot more flexible and non-standard, with more time away from home/family but more time free to be around them when you're off. You'll get to get some travel in and venture away from wherever you live (potentially internationally to some interesting spots), which is certainly a perk to some.

Flying is a hell of a lot of fun, no matter what, so I'm definitely biased toward that.

Your earnings potential seems to be quite a bit greater as a pilot in the current environment, but that could change and also depend on what kind and size of CM projects you're getting into. Some may have profit sharing, bonuses for early/under budget/etc. that may provide some substantial pay, but it also is less guaranteed. Current airline Captain's pay of $300-$400/hr is pretty solid and less "unicorn" level of getting to. Snagging a big, high-paying CM project might be harder, depending on where you live.

In the end, it'll depend on the kind of work you want to do. The pilot option will entail more of a commitment to training/education (probably a longer road to getting in the door), but it'll likely be a lot less stress and more flexible down the road. The CM will keep you closer to home and likely take less time to be up and earning, but you'll be working pretty long and non-standard hours in a tough environment.

Again, all of this is out of my tailpipe, since I haven't actually worked in either field, but it's what I have gathered in my experience looking at potential careers in both fields. I'm sure I missed a lot of pros and cons of both, as well as probably don't have my facts 100% right, but that's my .02.

Good luck!

Fatcat

thank you sir, couldn't have said it any better.

Bahamasflyer

Flying without a doubt, as long as you truly LOVE to fly.

Honest to God, I can't imagine doing anything else. Granted, this is the best time to be in the industry in a long time, but I love the fact that as I get older and move on up, I will be working LESS, not more, while earning more. It would be a living hell for me to work as a CM from what you describe, no matter how good the money is. Especially the lack of flexibility, compared to an airline pilot with some seniority. The #1 thing I love about this profession, even as regional FO, is that I NEVER EVER have to take work home with me.

Actually, that's probably the 2nd most thing I love about flying 121. First is that I can only be furloughed in seniority order, not based on how much butt I kiss or how much of a "company man" I am.