Thanks, and good luck with your decision!

 

can I get an AMEN! honestly this will probably ignite a bunch of industry veterans to rant about this but here it goes: I've thought about doing contract work on the side, paying a bunch of bills on a credit card, becoming an uber driver and even delivering pizza's on my days off. when I talk to people about it they all say the same thing, "its just one year". its a short term problem but it's a pretty significant one.

anyone have any tips or advice?

 

Any first year FO's out there care to share there average actual take home pay per check?

PM's welcome if you don't to post it up for all to see

and yes, i know I can calculate it using the hourly rate, but I have no idea what kind of deductions get taken out or how much they are (eg, dues, health care etc)

 

I'm pretty sure you don't pay ALPA dues on first year. Medical can range from $16 a pay period to $160 or more depending on dependents. Subract that and Obama's cut and you should be able to figure it out. I lost a home to foreclosure on first year pay! That was awesome!

 

I'm not first year any more and I live in base.
But it's a kick in the sack man. If you're an RJ captain it's very hard to justify coming here.
Training pay is fixed. Can't remember exactly but every two weeks you bring home about $400.00. You heard it right.
You'll be able to add flying once on line but you're at 72 hrs. I've got small kids and working wife so hard to pick up extra. In fact mostly dropped a day of reserve here and there. About 68 hrs month. Even months that I was able to work a lot it wasn't worth it. 6 more hours adds about $160 after tax.
And they sell you on these work rules and conflicts. You're not going to get the conflicts and the work rules are no better than the regional rules. Unless you worked at a crap regional I guess.
My regional had better or equal min day, deadhead, canceled rules. Nothing special here. The conflict and junior man are the only two worth mentioning and it's hard to get those.
You'll bring home about $900-1100 each pay check.
You've got to answer the following.
In 5 years where will I be ahead. If you're a senior RJ captain you'll never make as much as FO at NK. And the last upgrade has already been hired.
Or you've got to bet on another airplane order.

 

First year pay from my experience...

Small check on the 1st of month is about $1000. Large check (over guarantee and per diem) depends on if you're dropping reserve days like I was or if you're picking up stuff on your days off. I've had them be as small as $1000 and as large as $2500 with some move up and a lucky JA while I was already on a trip. I don't pick up open time and have never taken any flying on my days off. Don't budget thinking you're going to be able to manipulate your schedule first year as you'll be on reserve and your hands are kind of tied. On average plan on taking home about $2400 a month with the basic "diamond plan" health insurance and the 9% 401K match. Be ready to rack up some CC debt or dip into savings first year if you're used to regional captain pay. I've heard second year is similar to a junior captain at most regionals. Counting the days until 2nd year pay becomes reality...

 

That sucks about foreclosing on your house. Did you have something else happen or did you just dive in without thinking about how much you'd be taking home? And you are correct no ALPA dues first year.

 

I am on second year pay now (thankfully!) but I just went back and checked out how much I made over the course of the first year. Including the time I was in training I ended up making approximately $32000 after all taxes, 401K and medical was taken out. This DOES include per diem. I only picked up one junior man and hardly picked up any open time. Hope this helps!

 

My first year checks with the middle of the road medical plan for a family, 9% 401k, taxes, and 2-3 drops per month are about $700-800 the 1st and I'd say $1000 on the 15th. I can hold a line but bid reserve and strategically drop days. Really no motivation to do anything but the minimum while making $38/hour.

 

$2500 a month including per diem.