Oh come on its simple.........................most take the abuse of the low regional pay becuase they think they will be at a "major" in a few years

 

i love you too, monkey boy and to mike: i live in chicago; the taxes, property, and costs here are outrageous, but 120k is plenty!

 

The Top Step Officer is the top of the payscale. They are probably in charge of the patrol unit, I would think the ranking would be somewhere around atleast a Lieutenant, but I'm not sure as it all depends on size of the Police Department. The bigger the department the more Sargeants and Lieutenants make, but the harder it is to become one.

Most Police Departments are willing to recruit officers from other Departments, because they already got through the Academy, so there is no chance of them dropping/failing out of training, since they went through the training.

Alot of things pop up that will hurt your chances at promotions. Similair to the Airlines, you have to know people, and be able to keep people on your side. There are alot of politics in Police Departments, all of which can make or break you. It also has to do with timing, if the top guys are not retiring, then there will be no upward movement, no promotions. Like I have said, realisiticly most Officers make it to Sargeant (in a medium sized Police department) before retiring. You also do not become a Police Officer because of the Pay and Benefits, because you will quickly realize that there is alot more to it than that, being a Police Officer is something you have to want to do, regardless of pay and benefits.

 

Mike...You're asking too much...Just tell me how I can get my a$$ into a RJ and log jet time? Thats all I'm interested in. What you're asking for sounds a lot like self-respect and hard work..Show me the easy way.

-LAFF

 

I am all for raising expectations and increasing pay, but what I am pointing out is that you do not need $200k to support a family of three in Seattle. Very few people make $200K, even with advanced degrees and the like.

 

I have buddies (Bankers in Manhatten) that spend that much on a car............................... I have other friends who make 100k doing some of the most rediculous useless jobs......................

 

What kind of lifestyle do most regional FO's live? Days on vs. days off for instance. Schedules? It can't be all bad or people wouldn't do it. I'm in the process of getting my private right now. I'm 29 and tired of taking X-Rays of broken people.
Kevin
What can one expect to make after 5 years in the business?

 

Politics is one of the best things about being a pilot. I can't imagine how much BS you would have to put up with to "make it" in a political system.

I don't begrudge the guys for flying RJs for low pay. I have not figured out how to "fix" the system but I'm pretty sure a national seniority list or some such is part of the answer. I just don't like the idea of guys thinking $50k is great money.

I want more. I don't really think I deserve it so I'll have to demand it.

 

Wait!!!??? Who kidnapped HotMamaPilot and replaced her with someone who actually makes sense??!!!

 

If being a cop is so great I dont know why I've run into countless ex-cops here at the airlines - And by the way ex-cops make horrible sim instructors or checkairman.