I think that calculator is way off. To be sure, you are on duty more hours as an airline pilot, but not 255 hrs worth. I normally hold around 14 days off. I rarely have ALL 12 hr days, but let's assume I do. Even that is only 192 hours at work. I have at least one or two 4 hour days a month. This month I've got a 32 hour overnight, so that is yet another day that isn't 12 hours, and the return trip is only one leg, worth only 3 hours or so of duty time...
Sure, you make less per hour (respectively) if you compare a full time 9-5 job, but as someone who had a career as a 9-5 manager, being an airline pilot is MUCH better. It's way less stress, way more flexible schedules, and eventually I will make decent money. Even if I stay at ASA, $80,000 per year is a very decent salary (avg salary for the State of Georgia $49,650). It won't be big bucks, but I can earn a nice living on that, plus my wife's income. If I go to a major, and earn over $100,000, then that is just that much better.
I think a lot of people that complain about this job, have never been in the "real world" cooped up in a cubicle, hearing petty office politics, and deciding who gets the last piece of birthday cake when your boss turns 40.
Where else can I (eventually) bid for 16 - 17 days off, make over the national median in salary, and live anywhere I want? This is a very unique industry, and it really bothers me when people complain, not knowing what it is that they have.
