Don't Become An Airline Pilot

[N6069L]

Yes we all love to fly airplanes there is no questions about it, but let me tell you from a 757 FO’s perspective for a major airline. I AM POOR AND IN DEBT DUE TO THE LOW SALARIES. I have been flying for a major for almost 3 years and was at a regional airline for 6 years prior. I HAVE NEVER MADE MORE THAN $80000 in one year. And what's even worse is that working for an airline (believe me ANY AIRLINE) you are surrounded by very much negativity that you will also become very negative yourself. I've tried everything to try to stay positive but this has become impossible. If you consider this career, please do your research thoroughly and ask airline pilots about what they REALLY think of their job and do take their answers into consideration. Watch this you tube video and you will be humiliated even if you are not a pilot!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RayMaswju1A

 

[Way2Broke]

That you tube video is old, but I got a kick out of one of the new quotes, "I am truly amazed how many people are commenting asking how much pilots make. Im finishing up my senior year at embry riddle and a delta internship and let me tell you right now, if your are worried about how much money you make then dont become a pilot because there is not a single successful pilot in the industry who pursued his career for the money."

Some people just don't understand that you can do this for reasons besides money and still worry about how much money you make because you want to have kids, buy a house, eat something besides ramen noodles. Next time I am looking for career advise I will make sure not to listen to a college kid that does not have a career yet. Gesh.

 

[Swass]

Don't fly for the airlines

 

[time builder]

Flying a big shiny 757 for $80K your third year probably won't get you much sympathy from a college student making less than $20K per year at (insert restaurant name here).

Don't mean to be inflamatory here, I agree pilots are underpaid, but shiny jet syndrome won't be hindered by someone who complains about how they can't live on just under $80K per year.

 

[pilotyip]

Where else are you going to go to make that kinda of money? Is 80K tops in pay? Where will you be in 5 years staying at an airline? Where you be 5 yrs if you leave the airline? 80K upper 75% of US income.
It will take you approximately 10 years to get to a job that will allow you to start making QOL a goal in your job search. Pilots get hired at good places because they have Turbine PIC, you must build turbine PIC to have control over your career. You have to go wherever that job is that gets you turbine PIC. You stay in that job until you can get another job that gives you better turbine PIC, i.e. Bigger airplanes, Turbojet, 121, etc. It is called paying your dues everyone must do it. Some do it in the military, some do it at the regionals, and some do in the on-demand business. Everyone pays his or her dues.

 

[Princedietrich]

If you're pulling in 80k a year and consider yourself poor, you've got some serious problems with your priorities.

 

[Publishers]

I can understand your unhappiness but in debt, is that not your choice. I was not there on the day someone said, take this path and we will guarantee you will make six figures. As a matter of fact, literally all the jobs I had that paid serious money, were in fact commission jobs with no guarantees at all. I certainly talk to enough airline and other pilots who seem relatively happy with the job. Maybe they could make more but do not want to sit in the same office all day long surrounded by the same walls.
Life is choices,,,, if you are unhappy, make a different one.

 

[A Squared]

If you're pulling in 80k a year and consider yourself poor, you've got some serious problems with your priorities.

Agree 100 percent. Sorry, if you're snivelling about how poor you are making $80,000 per year, you have completely lost touch with reality. $80,000/ year is way more money than the vast majority of people in the country make. $80,000/year is just slightly under the top 15'th percentile in individual incomes in the US. That means that in a crowd of 100 people, 85 of them make less than that, and only 15 make more. True, $80,000 may not allow the extravagant lifestyle you've convinced yourself you *deserve* by watching my sweet 16, 'pimp my crib", and lifestyles of the rich and famous, but trust me, the vast majority of people in the US feed thier families, keep a roof over their heads, and live failrly comfortable lives for considerably less than $80,000/year.

While I agree that the job of airline pilot probably ain't what it used to be, if you think that $80,000/year is poverty level, you desperately need to look around you and see what's going on outside your shallow little shell of unrestrained materialism.

 

[pilotyip]

Reality Check

Agree 100 percent. Sorry, if you're snivelling about how poor you are making $80,000 per year, you have completely lost touch with reality. $80,000/ year is way more money than the vast majority of people in the country make. $80,000/year is just slightly under the top 15'th percentile in individual incomes in the US. That means that in a crowd of 100 people, 85 of them make less than that, and only 15 make more. True, $80,000 may not allow the extravagant lifestyle you've convinced yourself you *deserve* by watching my sweet 16, 'pimp my crib", and lifestyles of the rich and famous, but trust me, the vast majority of people in the US feed thier families, keep a roof over their heads, and live failrly comfortable lives for considerably less than $80,000/year.

While I agree that the job of airline pilot probably ain't what it used to be, if you think that $80,000/year is poverty level, you desperately need to look around you and see what's going on outside your shallow little shell of unrestrained materialism.

Hey stop dealing in reality, this a pilot board.

 

[TWA]

Please see Pilotyip's signature. 'Nuff said.