bamike

Normal people in major metro areas don't make over 100k. Please show the statistics for even one major metro area in America where the median income is over 100k. I'm talking about the entire metro area, not just the wealthiest suburbs. There are suburbs in the DC area where the average house is $2M, that is not normal.

Do upper middle class people make over 100K? Sure. But that is not the average and people need to stop pretending it is. Plenty of Americans are living in Washington DC, NYC, etc on less than 100k. They just aren't driving a brand new car with leather interior, and they don't have a 3,000 sq ft house. They probably live in an apartment or a townhouse. And their kids go to public schools, and they don't go on vacation to Europe. Adjust your lifestyle expectations accordingly.

Pilots have a very warped sense of what "normal people" make at their jobs. Except for regional FOs, pilots are well compensated in the US.

Source: US Census Bureau
https://www.census.gov/library/visua...ncome-dot.html
Note that this is median household income, not per capita income which is much lower.

SonicFlyer

No, just the S-Holes.

kevbo

A wealthy or even upper middle class kid that gets a degree and flight training naturally has high expectations. Is it those expectations that drive high wages at the top, or are they simply bait? Would anyone go through all the trouble for just an "average" wage?

tomgoodman

Unrealistic expectations can morph into presumed entitlements, leading to unhappy pilots, athletes, entertainers .... and spouses.

jumppilot

An advantage of this career is you can live a 2-3 hours out (less expensive areas) and only have to go into work a few times a month to fly your wide body to Asia.

That's once you make it - the upward climb of this career requires sacrifices, which is why I commuted for 8 years until I could make it work.

Stimpy the Kat

Here's how to know if you are a candidate for this profession:

- You REALLY like airplanes. ( You know, like Crack or Meth - "REALLY".)

- The following don't matter that much to you and they do not take precedence:

> Ego.

> Money.

> Possessions.

> Guarantees.

> Absolutes.

> Expectations.

If you can say to yourself, honestly:

" I don't care what it takes or how I get there. I just KNOW I'll be happier flying airplanes Someday, Somewhere, for Something, than I would be doing anything else. " Then you will be fine in this Business.

There you have it ...That's what people who enjoy and stay in this business are made of.

Plan as best you can, know it may or may not happen the way you think it will but, that good things will come. Especially in this environment.

STK

Making it Count

Wow, I didn’t know that I have been dirt floor poor my whole life until this thread.

You have very little control on what you make but you have total control on what you spend. If you are struggling to make it in America on 100k or more a year your making or have made bad choices and/or need to make an adjustment in lifestyle and expectations to fit your income.

AYLflyer

Yes they do, especially the ones who have never had a normal job, or have lost perspective of those around them.


My closest friends aren't in the aviation industry and work 9-5 office jobs. They live just fine on salaries that pay between $55-80k and we live in an area with a high cost of living. We're very close so they're the only ones who really know how much I make as a pilot, and I know how much they make in their jobs since we're comfortable talking about it. Are they wealthy? No, but for some to say that you can't live comfortably on less than $100k is ridiculous.

I'm sure we've all flown with them, but I had a guy just a few weeks back who was complaining about money and told me he wanted to drop a trip but he can't afford it. This is a CA bringing home well north of $250k/yr telling a new FO he can't afford to drop a trip. That's not struggling or being underpaid, that's just poor money mangement.

rickair7777

In this context we are talking upper middle class, or at least upwardly mobile. If you wanted to make $70K you could be a plumber, save the college money, and get started sooner.

Most airline pilots (excluding some deliberate regional lifers) invested in college, flight training, and years of dues-paying. Maybe some did that just to fly planes but most have an expectation or goal of getting to upper middle class.

For my generation the dues-paying got drug out for many years, so as retirement and kid's college looms you need to make up for all the lean years.

Can you and your family live in a double-wide and eat ramen? Sure, if you're cool with that. You could even stay a regional FO to maximize seniority.

tomgoodman

Rickair is correct: it’s a goal. Those who forget that, and think it’s an entitlement, risk grave disappointment. Instead of enjoying their work, they may start to call other pilots nasty names and rant about lonely hotel rooms and ramen noodles.