Does first year pay matter?
 

I am a prospective new-hire, zero 121, deciding on the best regional airline for myself and family. I hear a tremendous amount of chatter from existing 121 pilots that first year pay is one of the largest factors in a new-hire's decision of "best airline." This has made me curious as to the reality or falsehood of the idea. Please vote if you are a prospective new-hire or are considering a lateral move.

My main reason in posting the poll is to find out whether this is something other applicants actually care about. Personally first-year pay is a relatively small part of my airline decision. Second, third, and succeeding-year pay is much more important along with career progression opportunities.

Thanks!!

The major factor in my decision was living in base.

First priority should be living in base. Second priority should be avoiding stagnant airlines and/or 50 seat operators.

Living in base + company net growth = reserve from home, quickly hold a line, and upgrade fairly quickly which in turn creates the best quality of life you can expect at a regional.

You know first year pay bites at all regionals, but you still have to be able to pay your basic bills. In most places this means better than 30k living like a church mouse. It's up to the airline if they intend to keep someone after that- a small family really needs 50k to get along nowadays.

It's gonna suck no matter what. Find a place that has a base where you wanna be/where you live. Commuting blows.

Do what is best for you and your family and don't come to the regionals.

Yep, pick one, a family or an airline job at a regional. They are mutually exclusive. With the upcoming pilot pinch the majors aren't going to be any better, you might get paid more but you still will have a hard time keeping a family together.

Id say its a compounded problem, if your flight instructing then go to Compass or XJT where you get no pay, and a small amount of per-diem, during training. Then go to year 1 pay and have to commute spending money on that you will have a problem. Unless your married and your spouse works or your parents or kids or somebody is giving you money. I think I had 3 pay checks above $1,500 during training, at some companies that's more than both checks for the month.

Compass doesn't pay during training?

Compass does pay. Of course people on this site like to spew "information" when they have no idea what they're talking about.

I am not spewing anything, I used them as an example of how low to no income snowballs into a problem. I don't work there, but when I was doing research a few years ago they didn't pay you or for your hotel. The new hire stuff was take home work. Of course stuff can change, why don't you send him a copy of the contract since your so ready to refute old information and act as though it never occurred.

Not a factor at all for me. 26, single, only debt is $200/mo car payment. I left a good 135/91 gig to come here to Mesa, get my time, and upgrade.

At Compass You have two weeks of home training paid at 18.5 hours. When you return from CBT you're paid guarantee throughout training. If your training takes place other than in MSP you are paid per diem. Hotels are also provided to new hires as of several months ago.

Could be soon leaving a 135 Gig for 121 time. Pay is a pretty major deal breaker, also living in base is another.

Debbie downer, whew:eek:! Been at two regionals and I've been married for 5 year and have a 3 month old. Now I will say I have always lived in base...HUGE effect on quality of life. These commuters (most, not all) look like something the cat drug in and can make a 4 day feel like an eternity with all their b-ing and moaning. If you're gonna do a regional I can't express how much I recommend moving to base. You can always move back home after you upgrade or move in past the regionals. My .02. Good luck! :)

And you are the reason why the pay is where it is at.

First year pay was a major factor for me. I didn't have all my bills paid through flight training and I came into the 121 world with monthly bills totaling some four digit number. If I know I can make $300-400 more a month somewhere else my first year, that's a major major bump in trying to make it work every month. I don't get how some guys can just leave their seniority and go to another regional and live through that first year pay again. I get it that overall over 5 years someone may make more cash at XYZ quick upgrade airline as opposed to sticking around at ABC no upgrade in sight airline. What I say to that is I cant pay with money I'll have in 5 years. I need to pay my bills now. I hope to never ever have to deal with regional first year pay again. I carried all of my bills on credit cards I shouldn't have had to use like that and now my cash goes towards paying down the additional debt I took on.

Should've just went to Great Lakes. Or hell, paid for that right seat under wing engine time. UWET SIC is looked at more favorably than engines on tail time.

Another factor about pay, is how much are you going to be working. Will you be reserve making guarantee every month, or would you go somewhere where you wont sit reserve very long and be able to credit 85+ every month.

Jesus Christ man, I'm guessing you live in your parents garage. Even if you did, how could pay NOT be a factor, don't you like chasing women at all?

Soo which regional has the highest first year pay?

Horizon. Although some endeavor people may chime in claiming they are the greatest.

From a financial planning perspective of total life time earnings what ever gets you X PIC turbine time to meet minimums at a major should be the only deciding point. A career is a lot of years and sometimes early sacrifices pay very large dividends.

I do in fact love chasing women. I have no school or training debt and a little family money, I'll be ok on first year pay.

Compass has a 10,000 signing bonus. 25.50/ hr + 10k. Endeavor is up there too with their 20k retention.

Horizon first year is $30/ hour.
Endeavor is $25/hour + $20,000/year bonus.
Not "claiming " anything, but it's hard to argue with numbers, you can like it or lump it, I don't care.

Turbine PIC isn't a bad thing to have, but FOs are getting hired at the majors with zero TPIC time. That's a fact.

First year pay only matters if your going to be there one year :) big picture is first year your still paying your dues, so look at it like this, how much would you have to pay to rent a crj, q400 ect per hour to get yout 1000 hrs ? Add that to your pay and thats what your making an hour :)

So, you aren't an commuter FO?

LOL

I am sure there are exceptions but for the most part you are going to need some total time and PIC time to be competitive. Whatever gets you marketable the fastest drives the total financial decision. Better to suffer for 2-3 years when you are young and move on to real money/benefits than spend a decade at moderately higher salary. Again I am only talking from a pure life time earnings standpoint.

The bold is what matters. There needs to be a charge to get that changed. Its becoming a matter of a significant paycut from the instructing world, the 135 arena, and a number of other areas. Especially when the difference in qualifications prior to being hired.

Have appreciated all the responses, thoughts, etc.!

If pay is the only thing people care about, go to Commutair, 30 an hour first year and they pay for 4 hotels a month in base for commuters!

I made as much as a 250 hr new hire FO in Alaska as I would at Horizon. I could stay were I am and make better money and have what anyone would consider an amazing schedule. The only reason I'm leaving 135 for the regionals is to see my daughter more often. That means short commutes and first yr pay is really important. The pay in 5 yrs doesn't matter if I can't support my family until then. Jet time, TPIC, upgrades, those are all secondary considerations. Do I want them? Oh hell yes. But what is most important for me is not having a gap in funds.


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AMEN, brother!

Above is a testament to how circumstances alter cases. I would be very much in your same position if my income were a determining factor in our being able to pay our bills. Since I found myself with an income-earning spouse and no kids (yet), first year pay at any regional would earn enough to balance our budget. That allows for jet, TPIC, etc. to take precedence. I would imagine the same is true for most single pilots. Different strokes for different folks!

I was at a 135 gig prior to airlines making 45-50k per year. I would not have left for 20k per year but 30-35k is almost liveable so here I am at the regionals.