99% of what?

Looking at the next 10 days of 175 FO OT pickups, both bases. You will see a few names doing very productive flying. It's good to be at the top.

Junior FO's can make decent money too - we just work 2-3 days more than our EDV/YX/SW friends.

It is if you can’t afford it. Having a kid is hard, it’s harder when you’re broke. Just like buying a house that’s 80% of your take home is a poor choice, having a stay at home spouse and then having a child is a poor choice. What’s so confusing about that? Your entry level job isn’t supposed to support your wife and kids. How much do you think an entry level marketing person makes out of college? I promise you they don’t get the days off and QOL a pilot gets.

If you took this job then had a kid, you made a choice. If you had a kid and took this job, you made a choice. If you can’t make ends meet then you made a poor financial choice.

Who said I couldn’t afford it?? What are you talking about?

Lol see you are still lost in this conversation. I’m probably the only one here who thinks we get compensated fairly. Is it below industry standards? YES. It’s a decent wage and more than enough to live off.

Since I can’t say what I want to say, you're a real piece of work.

That entry level marketing job probably starts at 55-65k, with weekends and holidays off, a real 401k match, 2 weeks of vacation that can be used sporadically, and the peace of mind knowing that your second year salary won't be less.

I have done both careers - and even though I get off 3 more days a month, it sure does not feel that way; between commuting, late finishes, and early starts.

Don’t confuse one top salary for the industry standard, $60k (BTW what a year 1 FO makes with bonuses) is above the mean. They also can’t turn 1 week off into three, answer emails at all hours, and don’t get paid OT. Anyone who doesn’t think our gig is better than a corporate cubical job is delusional.

You knew where the bases were when you took the job right? Commuting is a choice and another poor argument. I’ve moved for jobs, adjusted my lifestyle for less money and more happiness, as well as delayed having kids until I could financially/emotionally support them. Maybe it’s generational but the idea that you have no choice in these matters (where you live, when you marry or have kids) is a crippling mental distortion.

Look, should we be compensated at or above industry standards? Yes, but that’s really the only argument that holds any sway. At the end of the day the problem is amateur negotiators dealing with unreliable management. The raises will come.

Not you, the royal you like the ones complaining about not making enough to support their kids. You asked if having kids was a poor choice. If you can’t afford them the answer is yes.