Making a fortune?
I disagree that if you come from the US you make a fortune working in Europe. By the time you bring the money home you get about a 22% raise. Then you have to pay all of your taxes. If you are an employee in the us the employer pays half of your SS tax of 15%. Then all of your other taxes have to be paid.
Lets say I make: Euro 10,000.00/month
Sent to the US 12,200.00/month
Social Security Tax 15% -1,830,00/month
Health insurance -1,100,00/month
Retirement Contribution -500,00/month
Taxable Income 8,870,00/month
Taxes 30% 2,631.00/month
Net monthly 6,239.00/month
This is a little less than what I would make flying for a good corporate operator in the same equipment in the US.
Notice that there are no training costs included in this equation. As well, it reflects someone who paid for all of his time and training up to at least 1,500 hours.
Lets all work together to make it better. I laid things on the line with the owner of the airplane I fly a while back. I told him this is what I want, or I am gone. There are so many flying jobs out there now, this is the time to push for better conditions.
Good luck to all of us.