wordfromthewise

okay guys so i have been looking into optometry instead of flying as a career. my dad is an optometrist and makes around 300K. he owns his own business, works 4 days a week. has a pretty good life. i have always wanted to become a prof pilot. but the industry sucks. i am currently an instrument rated private pilot. i have 2 semesters left till i graduate with a B.S. in Geography. i would need to do another 3 semesters of pre req's for optometry school. optometry school is 4 yrs long and costs almost $200,000. optometry is not all roses though. running a business is hard work and very demanding. and it would take 7rs of school till i start making some money.

my question to you all is what would you do? knowing what you know now as commercial pilots...

thanks!

TonyMontana

That's an easy one---

Optometry

Then, buy yourself an airplane.

JoeyMeatballs

wow, I cant wait to be an OPTOMETRIST, what a lifestyle DO what you want dont ask us, I would tell you Optometry as a profession would lead to my suicide

Spooled

Being a pilot is not as glorious as it once was.

The days of being 35 and rolling in $150K + are over. Now its more like being 35 and on the street furloughed or 35 and making $50k as a regional captain.

Careercfi

Where is skyhigh?
Someone make sure he has a chance to comment how ex pilots made a billion as a Malwart "Chief" Clerk.

It all depends on your specific motivation. Money does not work as a tool to buy happiness. I dumped a very very good paying career to do what I love to do. I may not retire rich - but if I get wiped off the streets by some junkie on drugs, it will have been on my way to something, or from something I loved to do. I'll split wood with a dull ax before I go back into that management job.

cfii2007

Office Space

TonyMontana

Kiplinger.com named Optometrist as one of the 7 great careers in 2007. Funny, they didn't list Airline Pilot at all.

Trying to defend Airline Pilot as a financially viable profession (job), is like trying to say a 7 day dead fish doesn't smell.

Careercfi

Why did so many people jump into it then? If it's such a lousy job, why do the kiddo's still beg for a seat?
I mean whats the motivation to select a job, get all the ratings and certificates and pile debt upon creditcards to get there, if it has been known for the last 20 years that the market will never be the same again?

IMHO trouble started when pilots became a dime a dozen. It was a few years ago just as much of a speculatory game as it is today. Lower the limits, attract people who have watched all the movies of the 300K+ airline captain with all the women in tow and make them believe they can do that too if they live on less than a Walmart clerks years salary.

Sometimes it feels like all the whining and complaining is just done to find a reason why "this industry has failed" certain individuals.

It's what it is, if you can't afford it, get out and become a dentist.
Good luck making 300K your first year!

How long does it take a fresh average MD to top the 200K?
If you started in the mailroom of some 10000+ employee company, how long would it take to climb the career ladder at Microsoft and get more than 200K a year?

Back when upgrades to the left seat on some lousy 737 was lightyears away because it required experience (most people I know made it well in the 80's didn't have less than 6-7000 hours) this was the same bonejob it is today. And just as 30 years ago pilots had the opportunity to climb above a solid overcast and see the sun everyday, when those on the ground started suicidal thougts.

Aviation is the only market that can afford to lower income for high demand positions. In no other "profession" do people prostitute themselfes for less.

The grass is always greener on the other side.

rickdb

If being a pilot is what you always wanted to do, then go for it. Dont let the individuals on this forum influence you. The industry is definitely in the crapper right, and pilots are paid less than they used to make. However, if you are a regional captain with 5yrs seniority and work the bid system you can make 80K. After 10 years, you will be making over 100K at most places with a pretty easy flight schedule. My friend is a CA at Skywest with 7yrs seniority he pulled in over 110K last year. It is possible. In regards to furloughs, it is definitely a possibility and something to think about. The great thing is that as a pilot you will have time to do something on the side to supplement your income. Alot of people on these forums complain and whine, but if you become an airline pilot you will realize alot of pilots are little babies. If I listened to every negative thing on this site, I would have never became a pilot and still be a miserable financial analyst who hated his job. As far as getting to a major airline, it might happen it might not, alot of it has to do with luck and timing. The same holds true with any occupation. Just make sure you are selective with the regional you choose so that if you had to stay there for a career you would be able to live with it.

SkyHigh

A great thing about this life is that we get to choose. Eye doctors and dentists don't have the most exciting jobs in the world. They do it for the lifestyle that the money and stability will bring. Flying has its benefits too, however you had better be prepared for the price that comes along with it.

Nothing in life is free.


SkyHigh