Ten most overpaid jobs in the U.S.- Pilot

[Murdoughnut]

Originally Posted by tonyw

Guys, guys, guys.

Here's a question for you.

Why do you care?

Seriously.

Here's why you should care - because public opinion can be a valuable tool in collective bargaining. Take AA pilots for instance - they spent so many years picketing DFW while making salaries that were well within the top 1% of workers, that public opinion turned against them. Growing up in Dallas I remember people moaning each time they'd strike, complaining that they were a bunch of overpriced whiners. Now that they actually have reasons to strike, they have no public capital to benefit their negotiations.

The young guys on here should also see the writing on the wall - if someone is perceived as being overpaid for what they do, there's a good chance that will change in the near future. If you polled people when I joined this site what their odds of making $250k as a heavy captain were, I'm sure it would have been much higher than it is now.

[Itchy]

Originally Posted by greaper007

I think we're trying to figure out why we're so underpaid at the bottom. Then an article like this comes out and it makes us think that maybe these sorts of public opinions could go towards lowering the pay at the top that we're all holding out so badly for.

The top is out of reach for many.

Underpaid at the bottom? Debatable. But look at it from a laypersons keen eye. Someone can go from zero time to right seat in a jet in less than a year (looking back 8 months ago). Although the training is a bit pricey, that is the reality. That is called entry level.

The hard part to bite is a 45 year old in this industry that has to start at the bottom if they have to start a new job. He/she can occupy the same seat that the zero timer is shooting for with a year behind him. This is the *only* industry where you have to start at the bottom every time you have to start a new job. And the industry sucks - many have to "start" again.

What do you suggest for a new career for a 45 year old who wants out of aviation?

[Orange Anchor]

Originally Posted by thesoonerkid

a wise man once told me "you get paid for what you know, not what you do"

You get paid what you are able to negotiate No cards to play.. you got nothing. You hold the aces and you can dictate the compensation.

Lamar Muse, one of the founders of Southwest, was quoted once as saying that an airline matures in 7yrs and then it is either time to sell it or desolve it. Employees only do the "david and goliath' thing for so long and they get tired of novice wages, poor benefits and no time off. After 7yrs, they want more and thus Muse said to avoid this, sell!

[b3181981]

thats assuming you know what all of the cards are and people are willing to work for a lot less than they are worth and if they don't and move on to some other career field you have immigrants on h1b visa willing to work for a lot less.

[ljg]

Originally Posted by Itchy

What do you suggest for a new career for a 45 year old who wants out of aviation?

There are many viable options to start out for that will pay more than 1st year regional FO wages.

I disagree with you that the right seat of a regional is entry-level, and it shouldn't be regarded in this manner. Last summer, a hiring rush occured with guys going to regionals at 300tt/50me and no CFI. I think this lead to the incorrect perception that flying for a regional was not a bonafide professional airline gig. This fall you'll probably see guys with 757 types and 4,000tt gunning for those same seats.

As to a career for a mid-lifer starting over again? The world needs nurses, EMT's, physicians assistants, math/science teachers, weapon suppliers, financial planners, and *gasp* more lawyers.

[Orange Anchor]

Originally Posted by b3181981

thats assuming you know what all of the cards are and people are willing to work for a lot less than they are worth and if they don't and move on to some other career field you have immigrants on h1b visa willing to work for a lot less.

This is not an H1b or immigrant issue and there is ALWAYS someone who is willing to work for less. It is not only airlines. A friend of mine is a contract G-IV pilot and he is ***sed that retiring airline pilots are willing to work for less. Why? because some have some of their pensions or all and thus they 'just want to fly some'. He is not happy that some are willing to fly for less than HALF what he normally gets. It happens in all industries.

The card analogy was just that and as we have seen in recent years, the pilots and the unions (or associations if you wish) have had zippo, nada, bupkus... and they have taken a beating losing pensions, work rules, pay, etc, etc.

IF the touted shortage occurs then the pilots will have a better hand and will be able to negotiate some returns but the work rules, pensions etc have been lost forever. The landscape has changed and it is not going back.

[surreal1221]

Whatever.



Another joke of a journalist.

How about we write him and tell him he's not worth his overbloated paycheck with his community college education and desk jockey job.

Rock on pal.

[FD4life]

I think the public also needs to look at the price of becoming a professional pilot. I would like to offer them the chance to spend thousands of dollars and get paid what most of us get paid. How many people do you think would actually do it? I'd guess slim to none! Pilots don't fly for the money. We do it cause we want to fly. Simple as that.

[fly6785]

Originally Posted by FD4life

I think the public also needs to look at the price of becoming a professional pilot. I would like to offer them the chance to spend thousands of dollars and get paid what most of us get paid. How many people do you think would actually do it? I'd guess slim to none! Pilots don't fly for the money. We do it cause we want to fly. Simple as that.

I don't understand how people looking at the price of flight training will matter... YOU decided you wanted to be a pilot and how much the training cost... YOU knew how much you would be making at a regional... YOU would have to know how the aviation business is... Yes you are right in that we all do it because we love to fly... I'm not trying to target you by responding to your post but just to everyone in general... WE all made the decision to become pilots and to fly for a life style... If people think we are over paid then let them think that... WHO CARES?

[Boris Badenov]

People think everyone but themselves are overpaid. It's human nature, because the populace at large are fundamentally selfish swine. Next time you want to remember this, ask someone on the street who they think is UNDERpaid. 99% of the time, they'll scratch their heads and say "well, I guess maybe (teachers, cops, wal-mart, mcdonalds). Interestingly, these people also reject salary increases for civil servants if they're in the form of higher taxes on ballot initiatives. And they still shop at walmart and feed their bovine faces at mcdonalds.

Joe Sixpack is always going to think that you work 10 days a month, get paid $300,000/year, and that the plane flies itself. Because Joe Sixpack is a barely literate pig who is most comfortable believing that everybody but him has got it easy. The sooner you realize this, the sooner you will stop fighting the "war of public opinion" and start fighting the war that we can win. To wit, the war of regulation.

[ppragman]

Originally Posted by Boris Badenov

People think everyone but themselves are overpaid. It's human nature, because the populace at large are fundamentally selfish swine. Next time you want to remember this, ask someone on the street who they think is UNDERpaid. 99% of the time, they'll scratch their heads and say "well, I guess maybe (teachers, cops, wal-mart, mcdonalds). Interestingly, these people also reject salary increases for civil servants if they're in the form of higher taxes on ballot initiatives. And they still shop at walmart and feed their bovine faces at mcdonalds.

Joe Sixpack is always going to think that you work 10 days a month, get paid $300,000/year, and that the plane flies itself. Because Joe Sixpack is a barely literate pig who is most comfortable believing that everybody but him has got it easy. The sooner you realize this, the sooner you will stop fighting the "war of public opinion" and start fighting the war that we can win. To wit, the war of regulation.

(:yeahthat ::yeahthat :)^20

[JA Yawd Bwoy]

Originally Posted by Boris Badenov

People think everyone but themselves are overpaid. It's human nature, because the populace at large are fundamentally selfish swine. Next time you want to remember this, ask someone on the street who they think is UNDERpaid. 99% of the time, they'll scratch their heads and say "well, I guess maybe (teachers, cops, wal-mart, mcdonalds). Interestingly, these people also reject salary increases for civil servants if they're in the form of higher taxes on ballot initiatives. And they still shop at walmart and feed their bovine faces at mcdonalds.

Joe Sixpack is always going to think that you work 10 days a month, get paid $300,000/year, and that the plane flies itself. Because Joe Sixpack is a barely literate pig who is most comfortable believing that everybody but him has got it easy. The sooner you realize this, the sooner you will stop fighting the "war of public opinion" and start fighting the war that we can win. To wit, the war of regulation.

Preach on!

[surreal1221]

Originally Posted by Boris Badenov

People think everyone but themselves are overpaid. It's human nature, because the populace at large are fundamentally selfish swine. Next time you want to remember this, ask someone on the street who they think is UNDERpaid. 99% of the time, they'll scratch their heads and say "well, I guess maybe (teachers, cops, wal-mart, mcdonalds). Interestingly, these people also reject salary increases for civil servants if they're in the form of higher taxes on ballot initiatives. And they still shop at walmart and feed their bovine faces at mcdonalds.

Joe Sixpack is always going to think that you work 10 days a month, get paid $300,000/year, and that the plane flies itself. Because Joe Sixpack is a barely literate pig who is most comfortable believing that everybody but him has got it easy. The sooner you realize this, the sooner you will stop fighting the "war of public opinion" and start fighting the war that we can win. To wit, the war of regulation.

Are you this guy?



May he RIP.