Do your home work on career salaries for airline pilots. The average for a 42 year career is easily six figures in today's dollars. The average airline pilot has 14 days off a month with free (almost) travel. The return on investment is one of the highest in America. Check with Kit Darby.com for career earnings.

Or you can check right here at APC for likely more accurate career earnings.

I'm cleaning the burrito off the floor that I just spit out while laughing...

Uh, OK. thanks for the Kit Darby plug. At 8 posts, are you an employee of theirs

:rolleyes:

That's interesting. Did you factor in periods of unemployment? What airlines? 14 days off? What is that based on? Reserve rules at most airlines have far less than 14 days off, so how did he come up with 14 career average? Mainline or total career including regionals. I know that Kit was telling us that life at the regionals wasn't bad. I think that some might disagree.

Education debt is crippling well that is my 2cents because that is all i have left!

Education debt is insane. Nearly $120k in the hole and a car payment on top of it. About a year and a half out of school I make a modest living contract/corporate flying and instructing (can't get out of the diamond because of necessity, bordem, and because I actually enjoy teaching). I can not possibly imagine going the regional route with the amount of money tied up in student loans. An aviation career much less and airline career will likely be impossible in the near future for all but those with deep pockets. The cost of an education is increasing exponentially and the wages are not supporting the case for such a large investment at least in this industry.

Hello all, new to the forums. I am a 1st year regional FO and am barely surviving. Seriously. I have about 20grand in student loans but cant make any payments. After rent, crashpad, car note I'm left with, net in my checking acct about 200. How are you guys paying student loans? Mine are in deferment at the moment but that it is coming to an end.
I haven't had so much stress as I've had in this past 10 months. How are you guys coping? Sorry if I'm ranting but I'm on the verge of having a breakdown only once a few days now.

I stayed a CFI (~making ~$23 / hr) long enough to pay down loans to the point where I could afford to take a cargo pilot job (higher initial pay but worse top end). I did the cargo job (and payed down loans even further) until I saved enough to survive 1st year FO pay. After 1st year, pay resumed pace with the previous job and debt payoff continues.

PS. I was a total money IDIOT when I started my career and after so many crappy paying jobs, you can't help but get better with money. I highly recommend reading a personal finance book (or 2 or 3) like I did just to see how others do it.

As I'm sure a lot of others on this forum will recommend, I think this is a good place to start...

The Total Money Makeover: A Proven Plan for Financial Fitness: Dave Ramsey: 9781595550781: Amazon.com: Books

Have you considered the military aviation? First year pay is around 50K, and only gets better. I would consider the Air National Guard or Reserves before even thinking Active Duty. Don't mention the breakdown in you medical. Goodluck.

Also, USAA offers a 25k loan at 1.99% when you first become an officer...decent way to get loans on a low interest rate.