Best Piloting Careers with no degree?
01-13-2016, 10:05 AM
#1
New Hire
Thread Starter
Joined APC: Sep 2015
Posts: 4
Best Piloting Careers with no degree?
What are some of the best paying piloting jobs that you can be hired for that do not require a degree? I'm guessing charter pilots? I've heard that regional pilot payscale is incredibly underwhelming but I'm not sure how significant their salaries can increase after 10+ years of experience.
01-13-2016, 12:32 PM
#3
Line Holder
Joined APC: Aug 2015
Position: Yes
Posts: 52
Originally Posted by rickair7777
Bush pilot in AK. But you'll need an A&P...
If that's not your cup of tea, better get a degree.
If that's not your cup of tea, better get a degree.
'Squatch
Who sometimes likes feeling Rich & Rare
01-13-2016, 02:21 PM
#5
Layover Master
Joined APC: Jan 2013
Position: Seated
Posts: 4,311
Originally Posted by Jheyviloria
I've heard that regional pilot payscale is incredibly underwhelming but I'm not sure how significant their salaries can increase after 10+ years of experience.
01-13-2016, 07:37 PM
#7
Prime Minister/Moderator
Joined APC: Jan 2006
Position: Engines Turn Or People Swim
Posts: 39,281
Originally Posted by UP Pilot
Atlas will hire you with no degree.
Bush pilot can be a career if your spouse is good with AK. And you're very careful...
01-13-2016, 09:50 PM
#8
Line Holder
Joined APC: Aug 2015
Position: Yes
Posts: 52
You don't even need to live in Alaska to fly up here - I've noticed a very major paradigm shift in the last couple years WRT safety, mx, and a plethora of other things.
Being a "bush pilot" isn't the death defying career it once was.
'Squatch
Who wants to be a crazy old man eventually
Being a "bush pilot" isn't the death defying career it once was.
'Squatch
Who wants to be a crazy old man eventually
01-14-2016, 07:18 AM
#9
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Aug 2014
Posts: 104
I'm assuming you're still pretty young and low-time (or no-time) with aspirations to a flying career?
My question would be - why NOT get your degree?
It's always good to have a 'back-up plan' and a degree will give you many more options later on, whether it's in aviation or outside of it. The days when someone can expect to get a good job with only a high school education are long past. As a minimum, most people need at least two years in a technical school or with an associate's degree program to find a decent job in this economy.
Get a degree in a completely different career path from aviation such as Business Administration, Computer Science, or even Engineering. Yes, there are "easy" degrees you can get, but if you have the intellectual ability getting one in a field you can actually use is best. (Most of those 'easy' degrees do little if any to get you a real job.) Getting a degree in a different field will help you if you decide to change career tracks later or if you lose your ability to be a pilot though loss of medical certificate (yes it happens, especially as we get older) or loss of license due to some incident. Don't put all your eggs in one basket.
A degree doesn't have to cost you an arm and a leg. There are excellent public colleges available, and usually cheaper if you're an 'in-state resident.' Research available grants and scholarships. Many of your 'core' credits (freshman and sophomore years) can be completed at a nearby community college (at much lower cost) and transferred to a 4-year school. Try to avoid taking on student loans if possible, but in this day and age it seems inevitable. Just keep them as low as possible.
Getting a degree online can be an option and it may be cheaper than brick-and-mortar colleges. Look for a good accredited school with a real brick-and-mortar campus instead of one of those 'virtual-only' colleges or something based in a far-away place like the Virgin Islands.
Even if you only do the degree 'part-time' while you are working or building flight hours, that's better than not having it at all. I know even four years (full-time) already seems like an eternity when you're young, but just grind it out as you are able. If you do it part-time over many years, eventually you'll be glad you did it.
Of course, having the degree will *ALSO* open up all those aviation career options which you'd be throwing away forever without completing college. And I think you already know the 'best', most desirable career options in aviation normally require a degree.
My question would be - why NOT get your degree?
It's always good to have a 'back-up plan' and a degree will give you many more options later on, whether it's in aviation or outside of it. The days when someone can expect to get a good job with only a high school education are long past. As a minimum, most people need at least two years in a technical school or with an associate's degree program to find a decent job in this economy.
Get a degree in a completely different career path from aviation such as Business Administration, Computer Science, or even Engineering. Yes, there are "easy" degrees you can get, but if you have the intellectual ability getting one in a field you can actually use is best. (Most of those 'easy' degrees do little if any to get you a real job.) Getting a degree in a different field will help you if you decide to change career tracks later or if you lose your ability to be a pilot though loss of medical certificate (yes it happens, especially as we get older) or loss of license due to some incident. Don't put all your eggs in one basket.
A degree doesn't have to cost you an arm and a leg. There are excellent public colleges available, and usually cheaper if you're an 'in-state resident.' Research available grants and scholarships. Many of your 'core' credits (freshman and sophomore years) can be completed at a nearby community college (at much lower cost) and transferred to a 4-year school. Try to avoid taking on student loans if possible, but in this day and age it seems inevitable. Just keep them as low as possible.
Getting a degree online can be an option and it may be cheaper than brick-and-mortar colleges. Look for a good accredited school with a real brick-and-mortar campus instead of one of those 'virtual-only' colleges or something based in a far-away place like the Virgin Islands.
Even if you only do the degree 'part-time' while you are working or building flight hours, that's better than not having it at all. I know even four years (full-time) already seems like an eternity when you're young, but just grind it out as you are able. If you do it part-time over many years, eventually you'll be glad you did it.
Of course, having the degree will *ALSO* open up all those aviation career options which you'd be throwing away forever without completing college. And I think you already know the 'best', most desirable career options in aviation normally require a degree.
01-14-2016, 07:19 AM
#10
Line Holder
Joined APC: Mar 2011
Posts: 84
Originally Posted by rickair7777
IMO that's not a career for most people...gone too much for family
I have a fairly large family with young kiddos and it's been a pretty good career for us so far and I'm not away from them any more than I would be at any other airline gig.
It's no FedEx or Delta, but we're talking about no degrees here.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
