What Can One Expect To Earn?

[nwa747]

I'm thinking of going the dispatcher route and want to get some insight on pay. What would my career income expectations be? Is it very difficult to get hired by a legacy or can I expect a career at a regional?

 

[Ohh Porterhouse]

I suggest you put in your time at the regionals to get your experience first. Then after you get 5+ years, maybe just maybe they industry will have taken a turn for the better and may see some significant growth and opprotunities at the majors (one can always hope right). Pay at regionals will be marginal at best. Don't expect to be living large by any means. Expect starting out in the low 30's.

 

[homerjdispatch]

I suggest you put in your time at the regionals to get your experience first. Then after you get 5+ years, maybe just maybe they industry will have taken a turn for the better and may see some significant growth and opprotunities at the majors (one can always hope right). Pay at regionals will be marginal at best. Don't expect to be living large by any means. Expect starting out in the low 30's.

Hell, AA starts in the low 30's!!!

 

[brokedash]

Hell, AA starts in the low 30's!!!

Of course AA is in negotiations, hopefully that starting rate will be improved.

 

[homerjdispatch]

Of course AA is in negotiations, hopefully that starting rate will be improved.

One can always hope it goes up a decent amount.. Right now SkyWest starts at approx $31200...

 

[Ohh Porterhouse]

One can always hope it goes up a decent amount.. Right now SkyWest starts at approx $31200...

Nausiating huh? Plus who wants to live in St George? Not me. I am sure it's beautiful country. Thanks but no thanks.

 

[homerjdispatch]

Nausiating huh? Plus who wants to live in St George? Not me. I am sure it's beautiful country. Thanks but no thanks.

To each his own... Hell id rather live here than in Dallas or Houston for example.

 

[AntiJedi]

Nausiating huh? Plus who wants to live in St George? Not me. I am sure it's beautiful country. Thanks but no thanks.

Depends on how you look at it. B6 starts out $10,000 more, but you end up spending all of your money on rent, and don't get past the poverty line for at least 6 years.

 

[Ohh Porterhouse]

Depends on how you look at it. B6 starts out $10,000 more, but you end up spending all of your money on rent, and don't get past the poverty line for at least 6 years.

True. I don't know how you could even live in that city for that pay? Who wants to live like a regional pilot shacked up with 4 other people anyway?

 

[Pull To Guns]

To each his own... Hell id rather live here than in Dallas or Houston for example.

I second that!

 

[XPOO]

to each his own... Hell id rather live here than in dallas or houston for example.

i third that!

 

[Pull To Guns]

i third that!

The thing about SGU is that if you need a break from the comfortable, safe, scenic "Mayberry" feel of the place, Mesquite, NV is a short drive and "Sin City" is not much further.

Best of both worlds, I miss SGU! I like to play in Nevada but I like to live in Utah.

But to keep on topic, expect ~$32K/yr to start with a regional.

 

[XPOO]

$32k is low, and you will only make that if you work the bare minimum amount of hours possible. I made $37k my first year with SkyWest and that was over 6 years ago. Trust me, expect to make more than $32k your first year here.

 

[Pull To Guns]

$32k is low, and you will only make that if you work the bare minimum amount of hours possible. I made $37k my first year with SkyWest and that was over 6 years ago. Trust me, expect to make more than $32k your first year here.

Pardon me, I have been out of the local loop for a few years. I did qualify my statement with a (~). I assumed the starting pay is around $16/hr. Maybe more now but to answer the OP's question, he can expect to make mid $30K/yr starting a dispatch career with a typical US regional, more or less. Better?

 

[XPOO]

No, you are spot on. It's just that everyone assumes you'll only work 2,080 hours exactly your first year. Add in training, IOE Jumpseating, recurrents, holidays, the option to show up 20 mins before your shift and leave 10 mins after your shift, overtime shifts...There's a potential there to pull in some good money even if the starting wage is $15-16/hr.

 

[Pull To Guns]

No, you are spot on. It's just that everyone assumes you'll only work 2,080 hours exactly your first year. Add in training, IOE Jumpseating, recurrents, holidays, the option to show up 20 mins before your shift and leave 10 mins after your shift, overtime shifts...There's a potential there to pull in some good money even if the starting wage is $15-16/hr.

Agreed. With extras it can be much more. When I left SKYW I was making in the $50's and with OT much more was available. I stand corrected. But mid 30s is what a new guy can expect.

 

[say again]

What do dispatchers top out at the regionals, LCC. and majors? Might be something I'm interested in as well.

 

[chico74]

PNCL pay $13.99/hr for new beginners going up $0.25 (yes, 25 CENTS!!!) after 6 months. Are they the lowest of them all???

 

[Pull To Guns]

PNCL pay $13.99/hr for new beginners going up $0.25 (yes, 25 CENTS!!!) after 6 months. Are they the lowest of them all???

Great! I am sure the traveling public is comforted by that!

Nothing against PNCL Dx'ers but that truly sux. Leave as soon as you are able. You can do better.

That pay is getting dangerously close to "Do you want fries with that?" territory.

Never could understand why airlines are hell-bent on cheaping out on their dispatch departments.

 

[dispatchguy]

Keep in mind that PNCL is the farm team for FedEx, a LOT of ex-PNCL DX are over at big purple making much much more than that, if you can stand PNCL for that long...

 

[Ohh Porterhouse]

No, you are spot on. It's just that everyone assumes you'll only work 2,080 hours exactly your first year. Add in training, IOE Jumpseating, recurrents, holidays, the option to show up 20 mins before your shift and leave 10 mins after your shift, overtime shifts...There's a potential there to pull in some good money even if the starting wage is $15-16/hr.

I have never heard "regional dispatching" and "good money" used in the same sentence before.

 

[WalterSobchak]

I have never heard "regional dispatching" and "good money" used in the same sentence before.

I wouldn't call SKW "good money", but a comfortable living was easily doable there after a few years. A comfortable living can be made at the regional airlines, it just takes a little more work.

 

[brokedash]

Keep in mind that PNCL is the farm team for FedEx, a LOT of ex-PNCL DX are over at big purple making much much more than that, if you can stand PNCL for that long...

PNCL hires a lot of guys who have or currently work ramp for FX. From what I've heard a year of 121 dispatching plus some time on the ramp and Fred will make ya a Big Purple DX'er.

Point in case alot of 9E are in and out in short order beacuse their simply fufilling Big Purples requirement for a year of 121.

 

[dispatchguy]

I was in class with an ex-9E at FDX; he is getting OJT right now on the domestic side (I'm international); once he is signed off he will be an ATC Coordinator.

He also had FX ramp experience from a long time ago.

 

[AntiJedi]

I wouldn't call SKW "good money", but a comfortable living was easily doable there after a few years. A comfortable living can be made at the regional airlines, it just takes a little more work.

The CoL/Income does make a difference, too, as I noted in my last post. Great Lakes doesn't pay much, but Cheyenne sure is hella cheap; much cheaper than SGU. Of course, unlike may of the others, Great Lakes and SkyWest both have to contend with fighting for a precious spot on the non-rev shuttle to the hub.