In this article we examine the question, is regional airline flying worth it to the aspiring professional pilot who hopes to fly for the major airlines? We will look at conditions regional airline pilots must endure with a special examination of the salary of the regional airline pilot.
In the United States,
and else where around the world, salary is usually dependent upon one major factor. That is, how many people can perform that particular job. The fewer the number of people that can perform a particular job, usually the greater the salary. In many cases, salary is not dependent upon how much money was used in order to obtain the skill.
A good example of this can be seen if we look at the salaries seen in professional sports. For example, in the NFL, professional football players can make millions of dollars per year, yet the preparation does not cost much money in relative terms. To play in the NFL really comes down to hard physical work, developing mental toughness, extreme dedication, and having the physical attributes and ability.
Not to many people can play in the NFL, and therefore most players enjoy a pretty good salary. The minimum salary of a rookie in the NFL is $285,000.00 per year. The highest salary for an NFL player in 2008 was seen in the form of quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, of Pittsburgh at $27,701,920.00. It also should be stated that the average length of a career for an NFL player is only around 4 years.
Regional airline pilots on the other hand will spend anywhere from $50,000 and up in order to be properly trained to fly an airplane. This includes Private Pilot License, Instrument Rating, and Commercial Pilot License, plus specific training needed for the regional airline they wish to fly for. Military pilots on the other hand have their training paid for by the American tax payer, which really is the ideal situation for those who aspire to become a professional pilot.
Keeping with the analogy of the professional football player, we need to ask the question, how many people can fly an airplane? Statistically, not to many. But if trained, most people with a little better then average intelligence, can learn how to fly. It really comes down to having enough money to learn.
So becoming a professional football player, most would agree, is more difficult and fewer people in society are able to do this, and the professional football player salary reflects this. The salary of a professional football player should be substantially higher then that of a pilot, and it is. Most aspiring professional pilots understand this. The question really should be, is the very low salary of the regional airline pilot worth it to the aspiring pilot who wants to fly for the major airlines, where the higher salaries exist?
From a purely financial perspective, if you always wanted to be a pilot, and you have the money to train, then it probably is worth it. But there are other considerations which must be looked at if you desire to fly for a major airline some day.
It really comes down to being able to withstand the rigors of regional airline flying. To start, some regional airline pilots only make $16,000 a year. These are the new pilots, and they usually need to supplement their income with other work in order to make a living. Some regional airline pilots just starting out, can make $20,000 to $25,000. But no matter how you slice it, the regional airline pilot salary is low relative to other occupations which require a high level of responsibility.
There are other rigors which are not only pay related. In many cases, a regional airline pilot’s base airport is far away from where he or she lives, and they may need to commute across the country in order to get to their base airport for an assigned flight.
This long commute, coupled with the need in many cases to supplement their income with some other work, can result in fatigue, which can lower the level of safety needed. With these additional rigors, some may ask, is it really worth it to become a major airline pilot.
To answer this question you need to examine why you go into a particular career in the first place. Is it for the money, or is it because you love the work. While the rigors of regional airline flying may not be suitable for some people, many pilots stick out simply because they truly love to fly. They also stick it out because of the financial commitment they have made. If your desire to fly is enough such that you can withstand the period of regional airline flying, then it is probably worth it.
Remember that flying for a regional carrier is sort of like paying your dues. Many people ask, how can a regional pilot get paid less then a taxi driver in New York, which by the way gets paid on average $17.00 per hour. As a matter of fact, there are many jobs which provide a higher pay compared to the regional airline pilot. Lets look at another profession which has low pay to start, and in order to work in that profession, you need to pay a lot of money in order to be properly trained for the position.
A doctor spends a minimum of 11 years in education and training after the age of 18. Many are in training for 15 or more years. They are living on student loans and contributing zero to their family's income until the residency years. During residency, they earn less than minimum wage, if you factor in the 80-100 hour work week. When a doctor emerges from training (and believe me, there is less sex and fun than is portrayed on ER or Gross Anatomy) he or she averages $160K in debt. Most doctors after residency make a good salary, with salary dependent on the specialty the doctor has chosen to work in.
So some might say, is it worth it to become a doctor. Doctors are also responsible for the lives of people, as are regional airline pilots. Most doctors go into the profession because they enjoy helping people, at least we hope that is the case. If not, there are other much more lucrative jobs in the financial sector, such as being a stock broker or money manager.
So what does all of this lead to. Is it worth the lower pay, sleeping in crash pads during over night stays, possible fatigue, and long commutes, in order to fly as a regional airline pilot. If it is a stepping stone to something bigger and better, such as flying for the major airlines, then most pilots believe that it is worth it. If it appears as if you will not be able to move onward and upward, then most pilots will strongly consider some other form of flying, or leave it all together. These are the considerations an aspiring professional pilot must look at before a financial commitment to training.
You should go into a career because you enjoy the work. If you enjoy the work, the pay will follow. In the case of becoming a major airline pilot, if you are willing to endure the hardships of regional airline flying, you love to fly, and there is absolutely nothing else in the world that you would rather do, then the professional airline pilot as a career is something to consider.
