Career Change - A Real Shortage

[MED]

Just marry your girlfriend and stay with Eagle. Follow my footstep, my nurse wife is making $120k/year and I'm making $35k/year at Eagle with 5 years of seniority. That's $155k/year, not too bad for a couple who just have one kid.

 

[7KCAB]

I'm with you - my wife makes twice as much as I do as a corporate soon-to-be regional F/O and we're DINKS - double income, no kids!

 

[jetbluedog]

Yep...

 

[upndsky]

I spent 5 years as a paramedic before taking up flying again, and I'll tell you this... you couldn't pay me enough to be a nurse. And I say this with the utmost respect for the profession. If you think you get treated like crap now as a pilot, you've got a big surprise coming.

Yes, they get paid better than a regional FO, but they do NOT make as much as you would like to believe. And nursing is not glamorous or exciting. You get to wipe the ass of some old goat who has sh1t himself, you get to deal with all the welfare queens who are abusing the system (for which you're paying with your tax dollars), and you get to listen to some yuppy know-it-all tell you what the treatment should be because they went online to WebMD and self-diagnosed themselves. Oh, if you work in a hospital, plan on working graveyard shifts, odd hours and holidays.

There is an incredible amount of burnout in the business, which is why there is such a shortage. Most nurses who start never finish.

Yeah, I wish I made more as an FO, but this is the easiest job I've ever had, and I've had several (This is not my first career). Hopefully, in a few years, I'll upgrade to captain at which time I'll make a descent buck and work even less.

I just thought you'd want to here from someone who'se been on the other side of the fence.

 

[rk772]

Just marry your girlfriend and stay with Eagle. Follow my footstep, my nurse wife is making $120k/year and I'm making $35k/year at Eagle with 5 years of seniority. That's $155k/year, not too bad for a couple who just have one kid.

My wife is a senior engineer and makes close to 100K. I quit my job at Eagle last summer and I am now Mr. Mom. I take care of the kids and watch Dr. Phil and Oprah everyday. Don't get me wrong, taking care of 3 young kids is very hard work but I get to spend my days at the Zoo, Museums, and amusement parks instead of in some hotel. We just took advantage of a 4.7% interest rate and bought a $265,000 home outside of PIT and were living very comfortably off of one income. When my kids start school, I will find a 9-5 career and buy me an airplane. Until then, I'm enjoying raising my kids in person instead of over the phone.

 

[sluminginpit]

Dude, if that was your girlfiend in the article than you live in Cali, good luck buying a house making 120K more less an airplane.

However I don't blame you leaving, I'm in the process of leaving as well. This industry is rough. Good Luck.