hurricanechaser

I left the flight school business back in April because I got sick of making $18 an hour and bring home only $1,100 a month after taxes.

I been living closer to home now where I enjoy rent free living and don't have to buy groceries on my own. Plus I'm making more now than I was as a flight instructor.

However, I been getting offered positions for $30 an hour at one school and $2,000 a month salary at other schools. I know that sounds good but I just made $900 this week at my current job now. Should I let these schools know how much I'm making outside of aviation just to put a perspective on things. I feel if more of us did this they would actually try to give us a competitve salary.

But the bigger question that must be answered is should I go back to flying under those conditions?

SkyHigh

No. Stay with the $900 per week.


Skyhigh

hurricanechaser

Oh Skyhigh, of course you would say no and stay put. But If I was to stay it wouldn't be for the money it would be because I am closer to family and friends.

I did make up my mind. I'm staying in this position cause I can always go back to flying but right now I have co workers that want me to take them up in the plane, so i'll be doing that. However, it is nice to know I have options out there.

SkyHigh

If you like having family and friends in your life and you also like having money then I would say that you have your answer.

Work to live, don't live to work.

Skyhigh

Toasty

Well the money must have been part of it since that is why you said you left the job in the first place.

Anyway, glad you've made the decision - sounds like a good one.

GoPats

There's no need to be so dismissive of Sky's suggestion Hurricane. Are you simply looking for a particular answer? Are you looking to be convinced to jump back in?

In your initial comment, you listed the primary reason for jumping ship as the meager salary you made as a CFI. A valid reason, if you ask me.

It sounds like you're in a position a lot of us are in: miss the flying, hate the lifestyle. An awful catch.

Now, I don't know what kind of job you're involved in now but if you're making ~$900/wk then there's probably a good chance that you'll be making more as time goes by (I assume). Most career paths do work that way, on average.

You could go back to instructing in one of those schools you mentioned but keep in mind that $2K/month may be it. That's almost certainly your ceiling (give or take a couple of grand). That may be a decent salary for the time being but it won't be long before your financial concerns come back.

I'm not telling you not to go back into it. I'm just saying that you need to be sure about the reason(s) you left flying to begin with and the reason(s) you have for going back in.

USMCFLYR

If you aren't courting these flight schools, why not make a counter offer with at least as much as you are currently making if not more?
If they balk - what have you lost?
If they match - then you are making (at least initially) the same amount of money and doing a job that you prefer. Take note of GoPats comment about the possibility of increased wages in the future at your present job.
Or up the ante and throw an offer out on the table above your current wage earnings.

It is a wonderful thing to have a job that you currently enjoy (or at least tolerate) and make good money at when looking at other opportunities; and this goes for any line of work - not just aviation obviously (e.g. my father did this with the insurance business and always moved up in the world until starting his own company)

USMCFLYR