How much am I worth

[siucavflight]

Here is the deal, I am pretty low on turbine time, and have had an offer to fly for a 135 company in the midwest as SIC. They have two citations, a beechjet, and a kingair 350. The owner wants to get me 135 SIC qualified in all three, he will pay for the training and put me on salary and benefits even while training. The problem is that the pay seems a little low to me, he wants to pay me in the low 20's for the first year.

The deliema is that while I do what to fly jets I refuse to get paid less than the industry norm just because it is a great opportunity, I feel like a lot of the low pay in aviation is due to guys who will fly for any wage just because it is a shiney new jet, AND I DONT WANT TO BE THAT GUY!

My question to you guys who know, what type of pay should I be receiving, I am not looking for something outstanding, but average for me would be alright.

 

[MNR]

As a 1200 hour CFII/MEI I was hired back in 1996 to fly a Baron for $18,000/yr, cargo at night. Sounds like you have about the same or maybe a little better qualifications. Also sounds like a little bit better gig. Its an entry level position, and your entry level qualified. The owner is willing to get you qualified in all three aircraft and pay you and give you benifits while in training, sounds like a decent owner to me. If that was going to be your salery in two years I would question it, but for all the training your getting etc. low $20's seems about right for Part 135 entry level, for the aircraft you are refering to.

I understand what your saying about working for little or no wages. As pilots we have created our own problem to a certain extent. This job your speaking of sounds ok as an entry level position. The other intangables, get paid while in training, having the company pay for your training etc. are what set it apart from just another bad 135 SIC job. If you want to balance the equation even more ask about per diem, amount of overnights per month, hard days off, expectations of being on-call, schedule in general, where you stay if you are on the road and other QOL stuff. As you get further in your avaition career you will find this can far outweigh just the $ in your paycheck.

Hope that helps

 

[Benu]

Someone paying for your training? 90% of the guys and gals here talk about the pay and 10% talks about the upgrade. You on the other hand are gettin' turbine and better pay than most regionals. If you're here flyin' for the money, use you degree. Some of the peeps here had to earn there take unless you're PFT. Enjoy it!

 

[flipper66]

$20K first year doesn't sound out of line. Especially if they are going to train you in 3 aircraft. Our company starts at $20K, then goes up to $30K after first year as SIC.

 

[B190Captain]

Here is the deal, I am pretty low on turbine time, and have had an offer to fly for a 135 company in the midwest as SIC. They have two citations, a beechjet, and a kingair 350. The owner wants to get me 135 SIC qualified in all three, he will pay for the training and put me on salary and benefits even while training. The problem is that the pay seems a little low to me, he wants to pay me in the low 20's for the first year.

The deliema is that while I do what to fly jets I refuse to get paid less than the industry norm just because it is a great opportunity, I feel like a lot of the low pay in aviation is due to guys who will fly for any wage just because it is a shiney new jet, AND I DONT WANT TO BE THAT GUY!

My question to you guys who know, what type of pay should I be receiving, I am not looking for something outstanding, but average for me would be alright.

Good luck in your decision but I am inclined to say the pay is sh*t, IMHO. Besides, how much flying are you going to do in a year? Are you just going to fly or be the errand boy, airplane cleaner and washer and so on?

 

[learflyer]

Here is the deal, I am pretty low on turbine time, and have had an offer to fly for a 135 company in the midwest as SIC. They have two citations, a beechjet, and a kingair 350. The owner wants to get me 135 SIC qualified in all three, he will pay for the training and put me on salary and benefits even while training. The problem is that the pay seems a little low to me, he wants to pay me in the low 20's for the first year.

The deliema is that while I do what to fly jets I refuse to get paid less than the industry norm just because it is a great opportunity, I feel like a lot of the low pay in aviation is due to guys who will fly for any wage just because it is a shiney new jet, AND I DONT WANT TO BE THAT GUY!

My question to you guys who know, what type of pay should I be receiving, I am not looking for something outstanding, but average for me would be alright.

Sounds like a good deal to me (for your experience). The fact that he is paying for your training and care enough to send you to school, says alot. This is a different example of what your concerns are. This really isn't "undercutting the next guy" or anything like that. Heck, Defense attorneys right out of school make in the high 20's in some jurisdictions.

 

[Pattern-Master]

Just be careful not to become there gopher boy. This happened to me a while back for a company I was flying at. One thing I like about the airlines is you park the plane and walk away from it, no cleaning, no stocking the plane, no putting the plane in the hanger after a long day, and no calls at 1:00 A.M for a departure in 1 hour.

 

[Jack Schitt]

Here is the deal, I am pretty low on turbine time, and have had an offer to fly for a 135 company in the midwest as SIC. They have two citations, a beechjet, and a kingair 350. The owner wants to get me 135 SIC qualified in all three, he will pay for the training and put me on salary and benefits even while training. The problem is that the pay seems a little low to me, he wants to pay me in the low 20's for the first year.

The deliema is that while I do what to fly jets I refuse to get paid less than the industry norm just because it is a great opportunity, I feel like a lot of the low pay in aviation is due to guys who will fly for any wage just because it is a shiney new jet, AND I DONT WANT TO BE THAT GUY!

My question to you guys who know, what type of pay should I be receiving, I am not looking for something outstanding, but average for me would be alright.

Take the job, get some experience and look for the next job that pays 50k. Get some more experience and look for the next job that pays 75k. Get some more experience and look for the next job that pays 100k.

 

[Freight Dog]

SIU... that is on a big time low end, and that owner is trying to swindle you. He's gonna pay you what you could be making flying for a regional. What is your incentive to go there as opposed to say Comair or Air Wisconsin?

Be aware of slimeballs like this owner. I'd be very cautious of bizjet operators that pay equivalent of regionals. Generally, they are trying to exploit young bucks with SJS.

Self-respect goes a long way. Keep looking because I guarantee you there are similar jobs flying similar equipment for way more money.

 

[siucavflight]

SIU... that is on a big time low end, and that owner is trying to swindle you. He's gonna pay you what you could be making flying for a regional. What is your incentive to go there as opposed to say Comair or Air Wisconsin?

Be aware of slimeballs like this owner. I'd be very cautious of bizjet operators that pay equivalent of regionals. Generally, they are trying to exploit young bucks with SJS.

Self-respect goes a long way. Keep looking because I guarantee you there are similar jobs flying similar equipment for way more money.

That is kind of what I am feeling, he keeps saying that I will get the same as I would at the regional, and I keep saying, yes but this is not a regional.