Learflyer

I too ran across a truckers forum. They were saying things like "new guys come in, and don't know what they are getting into. They think they can just jump in and drive." "They are bringing down truckers wages." Thought it was hysterical.

SkyHigh

Just to be accurate I would have preferred to have made a good living as a pilot instead. My current profession has been very good to me however I would have much rather been hired by my dream company while in my late 20's and done my real estate stuff on the side.

I have not found a profession that I love more but one that pays me in kind to the efforts that I produce and offers me a quality of life that I enjoy. Aviation is the job that I love.

I read today that the average auto worker at Chrysler makes $152,750 per year with nothing more than a high school diploma. If I deserve any kudos it is for abandoning a dead end in favor of making a real living for my wife and family.

SkyHigh

SkyHigh

This just blows me away:

According to Forbes:

Labor cost per hour, wages and benefits for hourly workers, 2006.

Ford: $70.51 ($141,020 per year)

GM: $73.26 ($146,520 per year)

Chrysler: $75.86 ($151,720 per year)

Toyota, Honda, Nissan (in U.S.): $48.00 ($96,000 per year

These are supposed to be average wages for autoworkers who come to the job with only a high school diploma. I am sure that these same guys think that they should strike for more pay while their company is going under.

Everyone complains about their job because they usually do not step back and take an honest look at what others are making. Pilots usually think that they are making a fortune at 50K however if they were to add up everything that it took to get their it falls very short.

I am sure that doctors complain too however even the most worse off doctor in my home town lives better than just about anyone else. The local ER docs only work 12-12 hour shifts a month and live like kings. The crime is that as pilots we sacrifice nearly as much in training costs and wasted years of experience building only to earn far less and face a career of furloughs and layoffs. Even a bad doctor can get a good paying job at an insurance company declining medical claims. Pilots are worth nothing outside of their seniority number.

Skyhigh

Cubdriver

What? No wonder they are going out of business.

I went to Bureau of Labor Statistics today out of curiosity for what I "should" be making. I found that aerospace engineers make the highest of any engineers except petroluem engineers. However, even they do not make $150k.

USBL engineer salaries

SkyHigh

The same situation is plaguing the airline industry. Some companies are (or were) paying their employees three times what their low cost competitors pay for flying the same equipment on the same routes.

In time everyone will have to equal the lowest common denominator in their industry for wages and benefits or else risk loosing ground to the competition.

SkyHigh

Learflyer

Remember, this includes health insurance, and other variables, etc. Unless i'm in denial about those huge numbers.

SkyHigh

I assume that those numbers include benefits. Those numbers were from two years ago too.

SkyHigh

TonyMontana

I laughed when I read the article. If I had my pick of things, I'd be the official breast enlargement specialist for Hooters inc, but in reality, I make the most off of the average citizen who gets sick or injured.

Surviving on nothing for so long has made me smart about having money now. I have made smart decisions and investments, and negotiated great contracts for my practice that reap huge rewards.

I feel that most people polled in that article were fresh out of school with no work exp, who thought they'd make $500,000 and only work 3 days per week like their dad did. Those days are over

But it's a sure thing to be able to make $300,000 and work 4.5 to 5 days per week.

Ask me how I know.

Cubdriver

Pretty amazing stuff and now you know why they are losing ground to foreign car companies. I bet the domestic-built foreign car companies do not pay those wages. I am beginning to doubt the bailout for the big three is a good idea at this point. They may need to just declare bankruptcy and see if they can reduce expenses.

Led Zep

Great points. I guess it can be looked at as walking a fine line. On the one hand, there may be a career that one really loves to do but pays very little over the long haul. On the other hand, one may find a career field that is the top of the top in pay but dead last in enjoyment and quality of life. The trick is probably trying to find the middle ground between the two.

I think you hit the nail on the head with this:
A little less doesn't always equate to the poor house. I think some of us (pilots) lose the big picture over time. A little less in our industry is usually still higher than the average working Joe's salary in a lot of other industries. If your salary complements your budget and you enjoy going to work, you've found that balance.