Since being out of aviation I have been shocked to discover what the outside world earns for seemingly low rung jobs. Police, fire and UPS delivery men earn a regional captains wage after only a few years. My wife's uncle retired from delivering for UPS for 20 years and is very well off because of it. Last week a family friend accepted a position with a local auto dealership to be a finance specialist. His base is 80K and has the ability to hit 120k through commissions.

In America today we are blessed with a robust and generous university system. More than at any other time it is easy for anyone to get a college degree. Universities, community colleges and technical schools compete for students. All are interested in securing better pay and working conditions, but are they?

When one takes a look at the world of word the results seem puzzling. How is it that a ten year regional airline captain barely bests a UPS delivery guy? Why does a meth addicted construction worker net 43K per year in my area?

The reason is that increasingly people will trade pay and benefits for an interesting sounding job. Currently those with a little ambition and focus look to college for what they think will lead them to a better life and job. Occupations that require some skill and dedication in the blue collar sector are being passed up by people who think the rainbow lies with a higher education.

As the years pass certified plumbers, electricians and telecommunications workers will earn more than airline pilots and lower rung business executives. Hey wait a minute, they already do earn more.

SkyHigh

 

You can have the blue collar jobs. I'm tired of breaking my back in the heat and cold, sweating all day long and being sore. This job is sooooo easy. I like it, and YOU WILL NEVER CHANGE THAT.

 

dude..all u do is whine and complain on this board...your self-employed...go to a website that entertains self-employment...and u r wrong..none of those jobs pay more than i make and i am an airline pilot..we all know why regional pilots make what they do...i love what i do and wouldn't trade it for anything except for a winning powerball ticket...my higher education was needed for my job and i also learned a little something...so give it up..u failed..now leave it alone!

 

It's very sad, but most pilots really don't care what they get paid. They just want to fly. I would bet that even if some of them were homeless they would not complain as long as they could keep flying.

 

It just is what it is and you and I both know that. I hope that one day the pilot pay will finally level off and remain stable. No, the pay isn't what it used to be, but you can still live comfortably for the rest of your days. People are always out to make a quick million but let's face it, thats not gonna happen in this industry anymore.

 

On our second day of class at UPS, we went out with a UPS driver all day. He can have all that big huge CASH! We were out 8:30am to 7:00pm. Uh, no thanks.

Secondly, a construction worker SHOULD net 43K or more. They work their a$$ off.

Skyhigh, have you actually ever worked a labor intensive job? It sure doesn't sound like it.

You need to give it up or get back into flying.

 

In just a few years???? A good friend of mine is a UPS delivery driver. He spent 7 years as a package loader just to get the seinority to hold a driver position. That was 8 years ago. He makes just about what a 3 year CA makes at most regionals. And he works his A$$ off.

The industry, as bad as it is, still provides a quicker way to get to decent pay as compared to those "seemingly low rung jobs".

Now before I get flamed, I do not think that we get paid enough for what we do. I was merely stating some facts to add to this discussion.

 

i think we can all agree this guy is a tool...failed in his aviation career and wants some sort of justification

 

while I appreciate your defense of our profession.. I think it merits noting that as a FDX bus captain you're at the top of the income wrung in aviation, and fortunate enough to work for a financially solid employer with a booming market. Too many pilots today DO work for crap wages (which in the long run will effect your ability to remain at the top of the wrung), and are below the UPS truck driver, or plumber's wage for a lot more hours spent at work.. so this is a problem that has to be dealt with by unity and unions, not ad hominem attacks on messengers of bad new.

Sorry if this comes off like an attack on you, but it's not.. it's just a wake up call.

 

Looks like SkyHigh has another username.