Question on regional to majors transition
#1
Gets Weekends Off
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Joined APC: Jun 2006
Posts: 1,523
Question on regional to majors transition
Let's say you're a regional captian making 90,000 a year. You get hired by a major and your salary goes down the crapper for the first year. How do these guys support their previous standard of living. Tap in to retirement funds?
#2
Ask me again in about a year...I'm about to start that dream/nightmare! For now, cutting back on needless expenses and plan to pick up addition flying at the guard and airline.
#4
sorry for the sidetrack, but is it possible to make $90,000 at a regional carrier? Holy smokes, all I hear is ranting and raving about pay being around 19-22K a year... How long would you have to be there to make 90K? Like 10 years?
#5
#6
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: May 2006
Position: Jet Pilot
Posts: 797
1: Start now by changing QOL and by saving as much as you can. You may need to tap into savings the first year.
2: Expect to make some changes to lifestyle. Again, it will mean different things to different people, but this may mean eating in more and out less, putting off home improvements etc., etc. However, remember that it is only temporary.
3: This can be tied into step one, but take the opportunity now to pay off whatever you may owe to help you adjust to probationary pay.
Personally, I wouldn't tap into retirement funds because this may cost you more long-term. You might want to consider contributing less into a 401k temporarily while you save that money into an account that could possibly be used to help supplement your first year pay.
And remember, this is only a temporary lifestyle change until you finish your first year.
#7
Look at the airline profiles on the website here. If you multiply the hourly rate by 1000 you will be in the ballpark for annual salary at most airlines.
#8
I agree with LabRat But I would add: Don’t expect to live in the same QOL style you had. You may have to slash and burn to a life style that does not resemble anything like what you have. If there are kids involved then this could be dramatic, so then consider digging into retirement. It’s not worth upsetting a young persons life that may leave lasting scares. But if you are single or married without kids, then make the investment downgrading your lifestyle for the future benefits. Nobody expects you to live in a $50,000 style when you make $90,000. But having a plan in place when the interviews come will make the transition much easier.
#10
I'll use a 5-year SKW CRJ200 CA at $64/hour. This is somewhat unrealistic, cuz most would fly the 700/900 at times for the higher pay, but there are a few 200-only bases.
Let's assume our guy flys 900 hours this year: 900x64= $57,600
Work Rules are important, with deadheads, rigs, and block or better, he probably credits an additional 15%: 1.15x$57,600 = $66,240
Vacation: Let's say two weeks (he could take more) at 3.0 hours per day: 14x3x64 = $2688
Bonuses (Operational and Financial): Let's guess $2500
Total: 66,240 + 2688 + 2500 = $71,428
Maybe our guys picks up some open time, let's say 80 hours (that's one day trip every month): 80 x 64 x 1.15 = $5,888
Now we're up to $77,316
After our guy is still there in 5 more years, his hourly rate is now $75: 75/64 x 77316 = $90,604
A CA this senior would probably stick to the 700/900, which would provide another 10% increase. You could also be a check-airman, which typically gives you a 20% override on top of everything else, so the top guys probably make $120-130K.
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