THE AWARD ISN'T NECESSARILY ALWAYS THE BEST WAGE OPTION. SOME EMLOYERS PAY A RETAINER PLUS HOURLY FLYING RATE. AS LONG AS YOU FLY YOU'RE DOING FINE.
AS AN EXAMPLE, MY EX BOSS TOLD ME HE WAS NOT INTERESTED IN THE AWARD BUT WOULD PAY AS ABOVE IN 1999 I EARNED ABOUT $4,000 MORE THAN THE AWARD. PLUS HOLIDAYS, ETC.