Starting Regional Pay
 

So let’s assume no furloughs at airlines happen come October. I’m seriously debating entering this crazy field. I currently work aircraft maintenance for a DOD contract. The pay is decent(40hr), but tired of breaking my back doing what I do and never seeing an end in sight since there is no chance of promotion or upgrades where I work. Also in the Air Guard doing Avionics, NDI before that.

Me and the wife have talked about me going overseas for a year to come back, pay off all debt and then me start flight school with the hope of me getting to a regional within the next 5 years or so before I turn 45(37 at the moment) and maybe have a 20 year career at the airlines. If you had to take a guess, without sign on bonuses, what would you say starting regional pay is right now? 40, 50, 60k? I know I’m not even there yet, but just curious as to what kind of money I’d be losing the first couple years as a FO compared to what I make now.

Around 45k before taxes first year at min credit (75 hours a month)

I am 35. Similar situation. Researched the crap out of it. 40-50k first year- no bonuses. 50k second year. 90k when upgrade complete. I am hoping for skywest as it is commutable with my current firefighter career. I figure I need to do 18 months working both careers to pay off the loans then I can make a decision about which way to go. Job stability working for local government is worth a lot more right now.

I have about 75k invested and think I did it on the cheap end for a 141 program. I owned a plane once I got my commercial then CFII'd to get my hours. Now sitting at R-ATP minimums. 61k in student loans paying minimal interest on (thanks bailouts)

Now I am just waiting until the hiring starts again or until my regular career overtime returns. Either way I need the economy to restart.

I did not consider flying abroad but with how many pilots are without jobs worldwide I wouldn't count on much of anything for a while because even as a 1000 hour cfi its getting hard to find flying work. United guys are taking 135 jobs. 135 jobs are taking 91 jobs. Furloughed and about to be Furloughed regional guys are taking whats left of the cfi and jump zone work. Fortunately I can play the waiting game at this point. Its probably a good time to start training because 2 years from now will be better

Good luck

Under airline profiles lists the pay rates for the Regionals. You will probably average 85 - 90 hours of credit a month. Add on about $500 a month per diem, and that is what you will make before taxes.

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Aviation Careers Podcast ? A Podcast about Achieving Your Aviation Career Goals

It depends on the regional. For budget purposes, take the monthly guaranteed hours, multiply by the hourly rate, and multiply again by 12. That'll give you the minimum that you can gross.

DO NOT DO NOT DO NOT budget over minimum guarantee, and do not budget per diem, unless you like sweating bullets over finances during lean times.

I’m curious to see what regional pay is like in 2-3 years once hiring does resume. Supply and demand, yanno...

Crazy that starting fire fighter pay in Texas is mid $50’s, for 6 months of training. Yet a few years, numerous check rides and a $70k debt later you’re lucky to get a $45k a year regional job.

The sign on bonus may be a thing of the past but if they eliminate it they will discourage many career changer that just can’t afford the pay cut. And let’s be honest, during the last few good years the majority of new hires were career changers 35-50 year olds.

Wait till you find out that regional FO's and sometimes Captains make less than senior mainline flight attendants.

Then you realize this segment of the industry only exists to exploit you.

But, does a 3rd year firefighter make over $100k, and a 20 year firefighter make $350k?