And yes, I totally agree. If I stayed in IT up to the point where I'd barely even come CLOSE to 6 figures, i'd be working 6 or 7 days a week, 10 per day average (Not counting hour each way commute)... And the phone doesn't stop ringing at night when you're at the bar or in bed either. Hell, I had this kind of job for 12 dollars an hour just 3 years ago. Our network engineer at my current place works an avg of 6.5 days per week, and IMO, just not worth it. He can't even go on vacation without something breaking or someone calling him. Responsibility (as in availability, not safety) is a huge annoyance when you are off the clock. Enough to drive you crazy. I don't know of a single person making more than 60 grand a year that isn't practically married to their job...

 

Even if it takes a few years, can't you get to a point where you are high enough on the seniority list that you can be home every night of the week? Or just do 1 on, 1 off types of schedules? Sticking it out seems worth it if this becomes a possibility later down the road... It can't be worse than stairing at gray walls all day with gray carpets and bright white flourescent lights with whining people that are too dumb to understand microsoft word... lol

 

Everybody I know that is making a larger salary, is working VERY long days, and often times during the weekends, as well. They do seem married to their job, and it hardly seems worth it, for that sixth figure, although the vast majority, despite how much they work, aren't making that sixth figure. A friend of mine is also in the IT field. His first job, even though he has a degree in computer information systems, was making about $10-12/hr. He has been with his current company about 3 years, and he makes around $40K. I have called him often, at 7-8pm, and he is still at work. That is a 12-hour day, being as though he goes in around 8am. I have personally done much research on other career fields I'd be interested in, other than flying, including IT, and reality is, most jobs will not pay a sixth figure, and most will find you making the same salary you'd make, if you spent your career with a regional. In fact, I know guys making as much, or more, as a 4-5 year RJ CA than many careers will top out at, 10+ years down the road. While it may take years, you can make a sixth figure flying for a regional airline.

At some point, you would have enough seniority to hold day trips, but I don't know exactly how long it would take to reach that point. I would imagine it would take more than a few years, as it seems those trips usually go very senior. I'd say the typical schedule of a regional pilot is 4 on 3 off.

Personally, I say if you are interested in becoming a pilot, do it. At least give it a shot, and see how you like it. You always have IT to fall back on, if it doesn't work out. Remember that there are complaints in no matter what field you look into, and people who will hate the job. I don't let that deter me, and you shouldn't either, if it is what you want to do.

As I said .. I had a conversation with a 6th year RJ Captain not long ago. He said he makes around $80K, gets over 15 days off per month, and loves his job. It seems, at least in person, I come across more people like that, than I do negative people. I've been told by many pilots to stay away from message boards, because they tend to attract much of the negative. I try, at times to stay away, but I am just too addicted. Just take some of what you hear with a grain of salt. Starting out, it will be hard, especially on first year FO pay. You have to start somewhere, and that is the case with any career. But, after that, it does get better. Keep in mind, as well, that the airline industry is very instable. It goes through ups and downs ... but then again, it seems everyday another company, non airline, is laying thousands off, with this economy, so while pilots may complain, it isn't any better out there in non aviation land, either, as far as job security, or job prospects.

 

"but then again, it seems everyday another company, non airline, is laying thousands off, with this economy, so while pilots may complain, it isn't any better out there in non aviation land, either, as far as job security, or job prospects."

Another great point... Besides, what would you rather do?

Configure firewalls, deal with dumb people that make way more than you and fix their every mistake, make sure the network is up at all times, take care of COUNTLESS projects all for less than 50 grand...

or

Push the throttles up a few times a day to lift off really fast into the sky in a shiny aluminum tube... Start off making peanuts, but have the potential to make great money... and with more time off than option A would EVER offer...

 

Certainly each person has different goals and expectations when it comes to work. What might be a great experience for one person might be hell for another. So - you never know until you try, and it's a crap shoot. You may love the move, you may hate it.

I'm a career changer (didn't do this until my late twenties). My degree is in aviation, but I actually worked for 9+ years out of the industry until I decided to pursue professional flying. I like it for a while. Then I began to realize how complicated things had become. Moved myself and family across the country to get in base. Base closed. Decided to move back home and commute. Huge stress. Huge hit in pay that I'm not even close to making up after 4+ years in the regionals. With the commute factored in, I was home about 11 days a month for crappy pay. Before, in my old non-flying job, I worked 4 10 hour shifts, and got 12 days off am month, plus holidays, plus benefits that blew away what airlines offer (besides the 'free' travel). As time went, I realized I had made a huge mistake. The pay and benefits cut was an insult, but more than anything, I realized it was the lifestyle I detested. It's just not for me. Some people thrive on it, but the 'on the road' lifestyle burned me out real quick. So, I'm currently on my way out of the industry for good.

I don't fault people for loving the job; that's great you found something you love. Not many can say that. As for me, I tried it and learned a lesson. Albeit an expensive one in more than one way for myself and family. But, you live and learn, chalk it up to experience, and move on.

 

I've just completed my first year as a regional airline pilot. I love it. I get 11 days each month where I'm totally off, and the others I'm usually on reserve. If they don't call me in, its like an extra day off, if they do call, then I go to work. I don't make very much money, but its enough to get by and the raises come with time. The job itself is fun and I like the crews I fly with. I think what makes it work for me is that I don't have to commute and I don't have a lot of student loan payments since I worked through college. Having come from other jobs also increases my happiness since getting paid to fly airplanes is so much better than the other work I have done.

 

Being an airline pilot is a different kind of lifestyle, than the typical 9-5 job. It works for some people, and it doesn't for others. At least you can say you gave it a shot. Are you an FO, or CA, and if not a CA, how much longer would you have to go, before upgrading? Does the typical salary earned by the captains you fly with, at your company, compare at all to what you made outside of aviation? The only reason I ask, is, it does seem like each person has a different experience, wheras someone like yourself may have spent 4+ years as an FO, while others may have upgraded more quickly, and are making a bigger salary, and more happy.


Glad that you like it. If you've just completed your first year, I'm sure the 2nd year jump in pay will be nice to have. Again, a perfect example of how each person's perspective, and feelings about a job will differ, no matter what job you look at.

 

"Piloting isn't and will never be."

Totally disagree. Five years from now, once age 65 hits their is going to be a ton of movement. As far as the overall future, pre 2001 there was an average of 13000 people getting their commercial licenses. Post 2001 an average of 2500, this past year being the lowest at 1201 total commercial certs.

In regards to no guarrantees, well there are no guarrantees in life and definitely not in the corporate world. You could be at the same position for the rest of your career. At least as an airline pilot, you know eventually that you are going to upgrade to CA. It may be a while, but you know it will come, and you know what you are going to get paid.

About your previous post regarding checkrides every six months, in the business world you have yearly reviews, and they are a hell of alot less objective if you know what I mean. I happened to be immune because my brother in law was real good friends with my boss.

IMHO, being a pilot is 1000 times better than the corporate world. Also, as a pilot, you can have a second career. For example, I do property tax consulting and incomes taxes. It can substantially add to your income.

 

AMEn on the no guarantees in corporate thing... I know people that were at the same position for 10 years or more, and they actually tried the whole ass kissing and "hard working" thing... They just get used and taken advantage of... It seems like the only way to move up in corporate is to have the right last name, know the right people, kiss the right ass in the right way... The more manipulative and sociopathic you are, the higher you will move in corporate... Not my world. I can't wait to get out

 

One of the benefits you're really going to enjoy Dan is a seniority based award system. If you're senior enough to hold a good schedule, you can hold it, if you're senior enough to upgrade, you can upgrade. There really aren't any questions asked on that, which can be a definite plus to "planning" your future. On the contrary, seniority also means that if you're junior, you get furloughed, and if you're junior as a captain you get downgraded.

I would never try to be the "rain" on someones parade, but as i stated in a different thread, i'm pretty sure i'm done with the industry. There were many factors involved, but my choice seems to work for me, and i wouldn't try to pass that on to someone else.

One of the negatives that really got to me, was while i was making good $$ as a regional captain i also found myself trying to stash most of it away for a rainy day. Knowing the general instability of the industry, the thought that hiring could slow down at any moment, that advancing in seniority could come to a stand still, and being on the verge of the Captain/First Officer cutoff made my spending rather thrifty. Thankfully, the somewhat thrifty spending habits allowed me to take the downgrade without toooo much suffering...but it's still tight.

I can remember having a conversation with an FO once, about how terrible it is for people who were leaving our airline and headed to their next job, where they were making 30k/yr. These were people with families, mortgages, cars, lifestyles, etc. Her response was to laugh, then say "it's all their fault for getting themselves in over their heads". As far as i've been concerned, while it might be ill advised to waste your money on five rolexes, and a diamond studded collar for your lab. We, as individuals should be working to live, not living to work. One of our biggest joys is the QOL we're fighting for, which is our time off. If you're living in a shanty for the sake of not taking a financial "hit" when you finally get the chance to move up to a major airline, then what type of QOL is it that we're trying to achieve...If a professional has a desire to drive a nice car, own a nice home, exercise, sight see, etc...then that individuals chosen profession should be on in which they can enjoy those desires...without the aspects we enjoy, all QOL is a moot point.