San Jose is probably not the best example of cops pay scales. When I lived in San Jose, it was ranked as 3rd most expensive place to live in the US. It was ranked higher than NY.

Thats like comparing pilot pay, and using purple and brown as your comparison statistics.

For ever cop making 100k, there are most likely 5 cops making 35k. Or whatever relationship you wanna use. Just like when we see those silly pilot pay analysis with the average pilot pay.

5th year captain at most regionals, better than 55K.

First year at most majors, about 55K. This would be the next logical move after the first 5 years at a regional.

I am not sure where everyone gets off that a Regional FO is supposed to have a life style. Making a living at this level should be the concern. If you're getting in at an older age, 35 for myself I knew I was taking a hit for a couple of years.

It's a work your way up business you knew that getting into it, didn't you?

The current shortage of Pilots I believe will make the next couple of years pretty interesting. Wait and see, or go ride a desk somewhere for those dream dollars.

It is because they are all ready retired by 48 and now are working a second career.

SkyHigh

The reason a cop career is so much better is the fact that they do not need a college degree or flight training (save 150K), have a stable career and they get a full ride retirement. By the time a pilot is ready to apply to a major cops are getting ready to retire.

SkyHigh

Pilots are based out of larger metropolitan cities and therefore should be compared to metro police jobs. My cousin is a LA County Deputy and makes over 120K including overtime. He never spent a day in college or the military and is due to retire at 53. Not a bad deal at all.

NYC cops earn much more.

SkyHigh

it is capitalism. why would they pay a first year FO more than the market demands? Ok, name a car that is over 200k hotshot, and show me a link to prove it. You kids think that money grows off of trees. Too much fast and the furious I guess. PS try watching some educational programs. and, i live in the real world...no not the one on your MTV

Here is a car for you in Northbrook at the Steve Foley dealership. Its the first car on the list at $262,655.00. The link is below!

http://bentley.stevefoley.com/New-Inventory.aspx

Here is a USED car for you as well. Link as requested is below. $235,990 for this gem all in the Chicago land area for you!

http://rolls.stevefoley.com/Preowned...oryId=15339181

You've GOT to be kidding. These are production cars, and I assure you they can all be found in the real world:

Ferrari F430 $168,005 - $227,000
http://www.edmunds.com/new/2006/ferrari/f430/index.html

Bentley Arnage $221,990 - $263,990
http://www.edmunds.com/new/2007/bent...age/index.html

Ferrari 612 Scaglietti $250,509 - $262,634
http://www.edmunds.com/new/2006/ferr...tti/index.html

Aston Martin Vanquish $260,000
http://www.edmunds.com/new/2006/asto...ish/index.html

Lamborghini Murcielago $288,000 - $319,100
http://www.edmunds.com/new/2006/lamb...ago/index.html

Rolls-Royce Phantom $328,750
http://www.edmunds.com/new/2006/roll...tom/index.html

Bentley Azure $329,990
http://www.edmunds.com/new/2007/bent...ure/index.html

Maybach 57 $335,500 - $377,000
http://www.edmunds.com/new/2007/maybach/57/index.html

Maybach 62 $386,500 - $426,000
http://www.edmunds.com/new/2007/maybach/62/index.html

Mercedes Benz SLR McLaren $452,740
http://www.mbusa.com/models/main.do?modelCode=SLR

Saleen S7 $580,000 (the link has yet another list of >$200K cars)
http://www.saleen.com/saleen_s7_performance.htm

Koenigsegg CCX $540,000 - $610,910
http://www.supercars.net/cars/3400.html

Bugatti Veyron $1,400,000
http://www.edmunds.com/new/2006/buga...164/index.html

Bottom line: you will get no more than the market will bear. You won't even get that if you don't fight for it.

Right now, it appears that (maybe) there will be a pilot shortage in the next few years. This all depends on how many airplanes are added to the fleets. In any event, I don't see $200,000 regional captains any time soon. As long as the various companies are subcontractors and can be played against each other, no where near $200,000. You have to realize that as subcontractors, you have no clout at all with the major airlines that employ you. If you somehow succeed in getting pay concessions from the company you work for, the contracting airline will just dump your company and go to another, lower cost one, or even establish one. If you don't think so, just look at the way the cargo industry grew up in the last 20 years or so. History has a way of repeating itself. Most regional pilots haven't even heard of Spirit of America, Interstate, Rosenbalm, Custom Air, ExpressNet, or even Emery Worldwide. These are only a few of the airlines that ceased to exist when the contracting companies decided to go to somebody cheaper. This isn't a rocket science and the management of these major (and some not so major) airlines has it figured out too. Why else would they hire contractors instead of operating the airplanes themselves?

The only answer is a nationwide union with a nationwide seniority list. That's not likely, but I wish you well in establishing one. Otherwise, the various pilot groups are pawns that will be played against each other. ALPA severely dropped the ball when they didn't see this at the outset. The RJ's should have been on the same certificate as the bigger jets, and the pilots on the same seniority list. 20/20 hindsight notwithstanding, it was a huge mistake to allow the current setup.