What jobs pay good in aviation?

[squale]

Well the more and more I read about people trying to become professional pilots the more and more it looks like it takes a VERY long time to start making GOOD money (I'm talking like over 100G's a year).

And for those of us like myself without a 4-year college degree, the hopes of becoming a professional pilot for an airline is close to none (especially with an already over loaded list of pilots that are having a hard time finding jobs).

So I am just wondering, are there other jobs in aviation that pay good? other jobs you can get without a 4-year degree?

I was thinking along the lines of an A&P Mechanic, ATC controller, aircraft desinger/engineer, etc.

Just wondering if anybody knows much about what else is out there and how it pays, the hours you generally have to work, if it's an enjoyable job, etc.

 

[Jedi_Cheese]

The CEO of an airline makes the big money, everyone else gets shafted.

Anyway, why are you asking? I thought you were a manager someplace learning to fly for fun?

 

[squale]

yeah, I make good money now, but you know, I like aviation so much that I may want to make a career change one day. Sitting infront of the computer screen all day is really starting to get to me when it doesn't have anything to do with my interests in flying
Can you say "health insurance".. uhhh... the most boring, biggest way to screw people industry.

 

[Jedi_Cheese]

Well, here is what I have heard (others can chime in and add if they want):

A&P: Decent to good money (don't know how long it would take to make 100Gs tho). You need to work forever to move up the chain to a decent place to work. Many corprate require previous experience with type before they hire you. Lots of training before you are able to go off on your own (Airframe and Powerplant certifications are seprate from each other and most places won't touch you until you get both).

ATC: Wierd hours (shifts that rotate). Lots of stress due to responsibilities. Usually need 4 year degree and then specific training. Hard to get initial job. Garenteed a job once you make it into the FAA. Retire at 57 (I think).

Aerospace Engineer: 4 year degree and then at least 2 years under another certified engineer. There is decent demand and the pay is within line of other engineering jobs.

 

[gear_guy]

Can you say "health insurance".. uhhh... the most boring, biggest way to screw people industry.


Sounds to me like you would be able to walk right into a management position in the aviation industry.

 

[pilotman2105]

If you're looking for good money, aviation isn't really the place to be.

Get some more motivation behind your dreams instead of a paycheck and you'll be happier.

 

[rvsm410]

Forget dispatch, this is a 6 to 8 week course to pass the ATP written, then you get licensed, however you will find loads of experienced people flooding the market to get a job, and they all start between $10.58 and $13.25 and hour. By your 15th year at a regional you might be closing in on $50K if your with the right company. Forget any flow through to the majors it just will not happen, the dispatchers at the majors use to approach $100k but most have taken cuts in rescent years, and it takes knowing someone on the inside very well to even get a shot...


If I were you, and I was, I would consider doing the military route for awhile, see where it leads you, maybe go full active, OCS, or other ways to fly some really nice Iron I did 21 years and did some real neat thing, flew some nice equipment and was paid very well to do it. You can retire in 20 and make a decent retirement check every month forever, then decide what you want to do..this airline biz may look compleatly different by then, in fact it will. Good luck and keep your family #1, they are the only ones that will always stand behind you!

 

[CameronW]

I'm doing the military thing myself- I pull in around $70K a year with flight pay, misc allowances, and salary. I'm not getting rich, but I'm having a blast, and the flying is awesome. In the military you get to do stuff most people can only dream about.

We just had a Lieutenant Colonel from my squadron retire- he did 20 years, flew combat in Desert Storm, Desert Fox, Allied Force, Operation Enduring Freedom, and Operation Iraqi Freedom, building up about 5,000 hours along the way. He retired from Active Duty at 42 and just started with Southwest...

Whether you choose to erve the minimum or stay for 20, the military is a great way to get unparalleled experience that can pay big dividends in the future.

 

[MarineGrunt]

I'm doing the military thing myself- I pull in around $70K a year with flight pay, misc allowances, and salary. I'm not getting rich, but I'm having a blast, and the flying is awesome. In the military you get to do stuff most people can only dream about.

We just had a Lieutenant Colonel from my squadron retire- he did 20 years, flew combat in Desert Storm, Desert Fox, Allied Force, Operation Enduring Freedom, and Operation Iraqi Freedom, building up about 5,000 hours along the way. He retired from Active Duty at 42 and just started with Southwest...

Whether you choose to erve the minimum or stay for 20, the military is a great way to get unparalleled experience that can pay big dividends in the future.

Are you an O-4?

 

[CameronW]

Are you an O-4?

I'm an O-3.

 

[ATCER]

other jobs you can get without a 4-year degree?

I was thinking along the lines of an A&P Mechanic, ATC controller, aircraft desinger/engineer, etc.

Just wondering if anybody knows much about what else is out there and how it pays, the hours you generally have to work, if it's an enjoyable job, etc.

I can't speak for all of aviation but without a degree (2 or 4) it's going to be tought to find something in aviation making 100k...

FAA - Currently in a hiring freeze, has been that way for close to 2 years now... lots of rumors about hiring but the administrator says we're over staffed... you'll need to go military or college to get in. Great job, I love it. Pay is based on facility rating (which is based on traffic count and complexity). A busy level 12 like where I am guys in their second year break 100k. We have several senior guys that have broken 200k the last few years. One of the guys I worked the mid with last night is on pace to crack 200k.

Now, people see the $$$ and figure the job is what they want, don;t go into it for the money... many don't make it at the busiest places. The $$$ sounds good but we earn it... last night on the mid we were cranking for quite a few hours, 4 am I was down the tubes with weather, military, and foreign pilots who I had trouble understanding and all seemed to be flying different routing then I was showing...

Good luck.

 

[Timebuilder]

Squale, don't take this the wrong way, because it's an observation, not a personal attack.

If you expect to be paid well in any industry, start with being able to communicate well. It pays invisible dividends, and just like the commercial on radio says, "people judge us by the words we use."

Your title asked "What jobs pay good in aviation?" The question you should have asked is "What jobs pay well in aviation?"

While you might not like your job, it can lead to having your own aircraft, and putting your own needs, your own schedule, your own family ahead of an air carrier's interests. A guy told me a few years ago of the old saw about aviation: if you want to make a small fortune in aviation, start with a large fortune.

I would not be concerned about which jobs pay the most in aviation. Instead, only approach this if you can't imagine doing anything else. If that isn't the case, fly for fun, skip the divorce, the kids you never see, and the attorneys you pay.

 

[JetBlast2000]

Go have some fun at college. Choose a school with a solid aviation program. Take a bunch of classes in various disciplines and major in the one you like best. You don’t want to be chasing the mighty $forever. Take care of what’s important to you and be happy. Otherwise you’ll be doing some aviation job 10 years from now with the money not quite what you wanted and you’ll be kicking yourself for not doing what you love… Ohh, and keep flying while your there and by the time you are done, you'll have a lot of options.
JB2k

 

[squale]

Thank you all for your opinions, it helps alot to hear what experienced people have to say as I am still a youngster. I would love to have a career in aviation one day, doesn't have to be flying, just something aviation related. Although, I know the pay isn't the best, it's still about what you enjoy doing day in and day out.

I actually was going to go to college for aviation. But some years ago I sat down, talked with parents, guidance councelor, and other people and came to the conclusion that family is your number 1 priority, and maybe a flying job woudln't be in my best interest because of the time away you spend from your family. So that's sorta why I didn't go to college for that, instead did the computer thing, which so far is paying off though because now I can actually afford to pay myself for flying. 4 years ago, FORGET it, my parents laughed at me when I asked them to help me pay for flight training. Well now I can pay for it myself which I thank my job for.

Thanks again for all your help and opinions.

 

[Timebuilder]

I would recommend that you have a college degree in any event. It is quickly becoming the equivalent of the HS diploma of the 1970's, both in importance and in some cases, level of education.

 

[No Delay]

Atc

Dude, go for a Air Traffic Controller job. My best friend works NY Center and makes about $140k. He does have a screwy schedule...but no worse that the airline guys...and he is never stuck off in a hotel room away from home / family.

There is a school in Minnesota that is about 6 months long to get certified as a controller. Once you finish the course, you are put on a waiting list to get hired. I have heard that it can take 6-12 months to actually get hired but once you are in....it is a good life.

The FAA just offered some extra money to controllers about to retire to get them to stay on a few extra years...so thats bad news for you. But in the next year or so there is suppossed to be a large number retiring.

I once signed up for this course. A couple of months before I was supposed to move up there to go to start classes we found out my wife was pregnant. I just couldn't take the risk of quiting my job. Now I have passed there hiring age and am left chasing an airline career....looking back, it was the worst mistake I have made.

Just a little advice from a guy who doesn't know very much!

Good luck!

 

[squale]

yeah but again, for an ATC posistion you need at least a 4-year college degree in something. I don't have that. I went to a technical school for computer programming out of high school.. so I would have to basically start from the beginning of college for 4 full time years to get a degree before even worrying about going to ATC school.

 

[7B2]

Current Position: Trying to make my computer fly!

I went to a technical school for computer programming out of high school..

Squale
Did you pay attention?

 

[No Delay]

quick update. I just did some checking on the their webpage. The are not offering classes at this time due to the cutback in hiring.

My ATC buddy says that is only temporary....for whatever that is worth!

Sorry for the incorrect info.

 

[Timebuilder]

yeah but again, for an ATC posistion you need at least a 4-year college degree in something. I don't have that. I went to a technical school for computer programming out of high school.. so I would have to basically start from the beginning of college for 4 full time years to get a degree before even worrying about going to ATC school.

You know, as a young guy, a "start from the beginning of college" is not all that bad an idea.