par8head

I tell every person that asks me that last year my pretax income including per-diem was $20,165 and that I won't make much more this year...It is the truth

when they respond "well in the long run you will make a lot right" I tell them: "if i am very lucky and am able to get on somewhere else, maybe...but I lose my job in January so my luck is not really shining through"

Trip7

Completely disagree. There are a couple fields like Engineering or Accounting that MIGHT start around 40-50k but besides that 40-50k is not the norm for someone fresh out of college with a bachelor's. Maybe with a Master's degree. Most jobs start around 30k.

Additionally, by the time those folks make 40-50k they are in position where they are working alot more than 40hrs a week. Probably some type of management position. Captains make that much or more with double the time off. Most people get into this career for the days off. Most careers don't allow you to swap around your schedule and create a mini vacation every month.

Sure McDonald's workers make as much or more, but they're actually working. Overtime too. I was basically paid $23,000 this past year for playing video games and touring ATL. If I had actually worked I would have cleared 30k easily. The difference between reserve and lineholder at the airlines is a pretty significant pay increase within itself. And why not count per diem as income? Who spends $500 plus a month on food during overnights?

Sure Doctors and Lawyers make more, but while they are sweating thru exams and homework in school I'm on the beach in Punta Cana with a cold one relaxing after my first class flight.

shfo

I just educate people by telling them exactly how it is. I had a deadhead last week to start a two day. Sat next to a middle aged woman who asked me what it's like having a job that you love? I told her my income does not pay for the rent in my shady one bedroom apartment by the airport so I rent it out to 5 other people. I told her I made more during the summer while I was in high school than I did my first 8 months at an airline. I told her the high school drop outs that work where I worked make between 25-50% more than I do. I told her that we only get paid when the door is shut and the parking brake is released. And finally I told her that I would be landing that night at 9:30 pm only to have to be at the airport at 6 am the next morning.

DC2495

I once drove the courtsey van for the Double Tree Riverside in Boise. It was a lot of fun talking with all the crew. I defintley bent the rules and took them wherever they needed to go, I learned all about that 8 hours thing (usually about how close they were). It was great exposure the profession, especially when a Captain and FO got their very attractive blond flight attendant to bear all in the back seat, that was tip enough!

USMCFLYR

YEAH! A raise!
$3.50 per crew - $1 each from the pilots, $0.50 each FA.


PilotPip - Always got the tip mentioned above - don't know if it would have depended on whether I got their bags or not since I always got the bags. Don't know about other *metro* areas (Hoyt Axton called Oklahoma the "cultural center of the universe"), but I promise you that I made NO WHERE near $10 an hour The most I EVER made in one 10 hour day in tips was $100 and I hardly remember getting out of the van that day. Somewhere around $20 per night was standard. Yes - the crews always gave much bigger tips for taking them out to dinner since we weren't suppose to - but like you said - they appreciated it. Of course now in OKC they have Bricktown across the street. When I worked there - that was truly the WRONG SIDE of the tracks!

USMCFLYR

utedrummer

I have a BS from a very nice school that is not in the aviation career. I have been on furlough for almost 3 months now and I decided I was going to sit out the flying for awhile and go back to what my schooling was in. I have looked throughout Utah since the furlough and IF I can get a job anytime soon in the field I will ONLY start out at about $11-$13 (less then $30,000). If I could start somewhere with my degree at 40-50,000/yr I would be giddy but the reality is that higher education doesnt mean anything anymore unless its graduate or beyond.

On the more depressing side, I have been flying as a commercial pilot for 6 years now and I got my yearly SS info in the mail, in the last 6 year COMBINED as a pilot I have made less then $50,000. What a great career. I am disillusioned.

Trip7

Precisely. The industrywide perception that every other career besides an airline career starts at 40k is ridiculous.

seafeye

I used to show people my paycheck to prove the point but they still didn't believe it. I even had one person tell me that this was a bonus check and not my by-monthly check. The pay is so horrible that even when you prove to them what you earn they still can't believe it.
I think i want my ALPA money going to a campagne to educate the public. Signs all over the airports saying "Your Pilots Make $19k/Year". "Cheap tickets come at a cost." "Low Wages".

Trip7

That would be extremely misleading unless you put "Your 1st year pilots make 19k/year"

And even that would be misleading because you only really make that little if you're sitting reserve all of your first year with little flying.

All my friends know how much I make and still they're like "That's good money for not doing anything!"

Timmay

The co-workers at my second job don't believe what I make as a pilot. The fact that I'm there should be evidence enough.