£100,000 plus UK jobs
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Take a look at the ever-popular, 'what is your take home salary' thread.
There are certainly many more than 300 pilots earning over GBP 100k pa. But for someone coming in to the industry the outlook is nowhere near as good. 70-80k would be a more reasonable figure now and that after 10-15 years.
Unless you have buckets of cash to spare, I would give flying a wide berth. It is a VERY cruel mistress - but then some people like cruel mistresses ;-).
KT
There are certainly many more than 300 pilots earning over GBP 100k pa. But for someone coming in to the industry the outlook is nowhere near as good. 70-80k would be a more reasonable figure now and that after 10-15 years.
Unless you have buckets of cash to spare, I would give flying a wide berth. It is a VERY cruel mistress - but then some people like cruel mistresses ;-).
KT
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shhh....there is an election on in the UK. Any sniff of potential 100 grand salaries will involke a Pilot pay super tax by the next chance of the exchechthemoneydownthedrainer.
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Cptdivz I think you need a reality check old son. If you are already considering that one of your factors for becoming a pilot is making a shed load of money then you are not the sort of person that will become a career pilot. I don't think I even knew how much I got paid for the first 10 yrs of my flying career, I didn't really care... all I wanted to do was fly. This industry is a rollercoaster of good times and bad times. Unless you have the passion to see it through the bad, you will fall by the wayside. If you really want to fly, don't concern yourself with how much you will earn, just focus on how you are going to get your licence and then a job.. It won't be handed to you on a plate just because you are a University graduate.
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And also with the number of pilots training now and the number of airlines shrinking or merging rather than expanding, I think what you should ask yourself is would you be happy to live on an FO's salary for the next 20 years, after you have paid an extortionate amount for your training? Spend £80k, fly the first year free (or pay to fly, as some airlines have started) or on low initial salary and then gradually it increases each year. You cannot predict when you would get a command and whether you would ever get a TRE/TRI position or line trainer's position. When I started flying a wise old Captain told me to always live on an FOs salary - ie. don't mortgage yourself to the hilt - that way, if anything ever happened and you lost your job (or your command) for any reason, you could work pretty much anywhere and still survive.
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EZY pilots on Euro salaries are way over this. Most of those on meagre sterling rates and living in Ripoff Britain are not so fortunate.
A level playing field it is NOT.
A level playing field it is NOT.
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cptdivz,
if you want the 100k plus salary and have enjoyed buggering about in light aircraft, go to Uni, study law and look at corporate law. you'll make 100k easy on a three day week and be able to afford your own 182 with a glass cockpit and enjoy that a couple of days a week.
The aviation industry is not a career, it's a life commitment.
if you want the 100k plus salary and have enjoyed buggering about in light aircraft, go to Uni, study law and look at corporate law. you'll make 100k easy on a three day week and be able to afford your own 182 with a glass cockpit and enjoy that a couple of days a week.
The aviation industry is not a career, it's a life commitment.
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Dear cptdivz,
Well done on your reasoning. If only more people thought like this we wouldn't have this pay2fly crap and people willing to work for less and less.
The root of the problem in flying is that we (aspiring) pilots are our own worst enemy.
Ofcourse flying is the best job in the world and a lifetime commitment. But at the end of the day it's a JOB and a lifestyle needs to be paid for. There should not be the need to accept unworthy conditions just because you like the job that much.
I don't think you're getting in for the money, even IF many airline jobs were paying 100k+ there are far easier and secure ways to start making that kind of money in other careers.
I can fully understand that you're making a very conscious decision on a once-in-lifetime investment, naturally you'd like to assess your return on investment as well as a future lifestyle (read: money) commensurate with your qualifications and professionalism.
So in short: do not enter this career if you want to make big money. But please do enter if this has been your lifelong dream.
I am 26 now and have made over 100k euro in 2009 as an SFO in Europe. Taxwise a lot more favourable than the UK as well. PLUS some income from other flying related activities outside of the airline. I've got friends my age making 3-4 times this money doing entirely different things in life on which I could easily join in. I love my job however and feel that I am worthily compensated.
Regards
PS: not caring about what you make the first 10 years is something really stupid. It should be top priority once inside of the profession so that you can get rid of your trainingloans ASAP.
Well done on your reasoning. If only more people thought like this we wouldn't have this pay2fly crap and people willing to work for less and less.
The root of the problem in flying is that we (aspiring) pilots are our own worst enemy.
Ofcourse flying is the best job in the world and a lifetime commitment. But at the end of the day it's a JOB and a lifestyle needs to be paid for. There should not be the need to accept unworthy conditions just because you like the job that much.
I don't think you're getting in for the money, even IF many airline jobs were paying 100k+ there are far easier and secure ways to start making that kind of money in other careers.
I can fully understand that you're making a very conscious decision on a once-in-lifetime investment, naturally you'd like to assess your return on investment as well as a future lifestyle (read: money) commensurate with your qualifications and professionalism.
So in short: do not enter this career if you want to make big money. But please do enter if this has been your lifelong dream.
I am 26 now and have made over 100k euro in 2009 as an SFO in Europe. Taxwise a lot more favourable than the UK as well. PLUS some income from other flying related activities outside of the airline. I've got friends my age making 3-4 times this money doing entirely different things in life on which I could easily join in. I love my job however and feel that I am worthily compensated.
Regards
PS: not caring about what you make the first 10 years is something really stupid. It should be top priority once inside of the profession so that you can get rid of your trainingloans ASAP.
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Cheers for the replies people- no one does flying for the money, it does not make economic sense even if there are huge salaries to be made however the initial investment is too great. Flying is a passion but I do not think I would not be satisfied playing around in a Cesna at the weekends working long shift in an office during the week. I appreciate your reply OPEN DES. I still think young pilots especially P2F ect are ripping themselves and the greater pilot community off. Who wants to live in their 20’s and 30’s living out of a car while friends are putting down deposits on houses/flats?
My opinion is if pilots worried a bit more about what they are getting paid we would not be in this P2F situation and the rest of it. Although as said before pilots are back stabbing, greedy people and will do anything to work and keep out the way of management, which is a shame especially for the younger generation like myself who are seriously considering taking the plunge in the not too distant future.
Kind Regards,
Cptdivz
!
My opinion is if pilots worried a bit more about what they are getting paid we would not be in this P2F situation and the rest of it. Although as said before pilots are back stabbing, greedy people and will do anything to work and keep out the way of management, which is a shame especially for the younger generation like myself who are seriously considering taking the plunge in the not too distant future.
Kind Regards,
Cptdivz
!
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OPEN DES
"There should not be the need to accept unworthy conditions just because you like the job that much"
I don't consider that potentially earning less than 100K a year is accepting an "unworthy condition". There are plenty of excellent jobs out there with salaries much less than that. My point is that I would question the motivation of someone who makes a post about earning more than 100K before he has even got his licence. A better question would be to find out if he can make enough money to finance a loan for training. Maybe he doesn't need a loan.. we dont know from the post. When I fly with a FO it is easy to see who is motivated about flying and who is motivated by money/lifestyle. I dont need to tell you who make the better FO's.
"There should not be the need to accept unworthy conditions just because you like the job that much"
I don't consider that potentially earning less than 100K a year is accepting an "unworthy condition". There are plenty of excellent jobs out there with salaries much less than that. My point is that I would question the motivation of someone who makes a post about earning more than 100K before he has even got his licence. A better question would be to find out if he can make enough money to finance a loan for training. Maybe he doesn't need a loan.. we dont know from the post. When I fly with a FO it is easy to see who is motivated about flying and who is motivated by money/lifestyle. I dont need to tell you who make the better FO's.
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Hi
Well would you agree with me that it would be ideal if you would be equally motivated by both? The former one being the reason you start flying.
When I started off I was very motivated about flying and I still am. But at the end of the day it's a job and we should treat it as such.
Perhaps you're right that a newbie asking about 100k+ salaries seems a bit strange. But still I would argue that potentially investing/wasting 100k+ for training justifies any query!
Do they still call you wizard in IT airspace?
Regards
When I fly with a FO it is easy to see who is motivated about flying and who is motivated by money/lifestyle
When I started off I was very motivated about flying and I still am. But at the end of the day it's a job and we should treat it as such.
Perhaps you're right that a newbie asking about 100k+ salaries seems a bit strange. But still I would argue that potentially investing/wasting 100k+ for training justifies any query!
Do they still call you wizard in IT airspace?
Regards
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Wizzaird,
I asked the question to find out the potential earnings for a pilot in this day and age. Who would go into a job without knowing what there earning potential would be, only a daft man no matter what the job. Being a commercial pilot is a career not a lifestyle choice. Bills still have to be paid at the end of the month. I have the money for training waiting if needed as a large lump sum was generously left to me in my uncle's will. However there is not a chance in hell I would waste it on pilot training unless I knew I would be happy flying for a living( including getting paid what I deserve in the long run).
Kind regards,
Cptdiv!
I asked the question to find out the potential earnings for a pilot in this day and age. Who would go into a job without knowing what there earning potential would be, only a daft man no matter what the job. Being a commercial pilot is a career not a lifestyle choice. Bills still have to be paid at the end of the month. I have the money for training waiting if needed as a large lump sum was generously left to me in my uncle's will. However there is not a chance in hell I would waste it on pilot training unless I knew I would be happy flying for a living( including getting paid what I deserve in the long run).
Kind regards,
Cptdiv
!
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Cptdivz - You query about money is justified. It is important to know potential future earnings. I earn about 6k sterling net a month however I must sacrifice an awful lot for that money. I have been flying for ten years now and whilst it has been rewarding I feel that the the job is now seriously affecting my life in a negative manner.
The salary does not compensate enough. If you want to earn in excess of 100k then aviation is not where you need to be.
If you want a totally unique job then flying is a great place to be.
My advice to anyone considering becoming a Pilot is to think very carefully about what you want from life, where do I want to be in ten years, twenty years. By that I mean your life - where do I want my life to be?
My job has afforded me many things that otherwise might have been out of reach.
Good luck, don't rush any decision.
The salary does not compensate enough. If you want to earn in excess of 100k then aviation is not where you need to be.
If you want a totally unique job then flying is a great place to be.
My advice to anyone considering becoming a Pilot is to think very carefully about what you want from life, where do I want to be in ten years, twenty years. By that I mean your life - where do I want my life to be?
My job has afforded me many things that otherwise might have been out of reach.
Good luck, don't rush any decision.
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Cptdivz, If I were in your enviable position of being young and presumably able to travel anywhere in the world to start a job I would not go straight into an airline job. Flying a big shiney jet isn't always, I'm afraid, the best flying you will ever get in aviation. I would go to somewhere like Canada/Australia/South Africa/NZ and fly float planes/ ad-hoc charter/meat bombing(skydiving)..anything you can get. You will probably have some of the best flying in your life and will have built up invaluable experience for when you do put your arse in a shiny jet. You will get paid peanuts, but it will have not cost you and arm and a leg to buy your 737 or A320 TR + line trg in the first place. The aviation world is big out there and there are still opportunities for those who are prepared to get out there and bang on the doors! Anyway, enough ranting. Good luck whichever way you choose.
W
W
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EZY pilots on Euro salaries are way over this. Most of those on meagre sterling rates and living in Ripoff Britain are not so fortunate.
A level playing field it is NOT.
A level playing field it is NOT.
If it makes you feel better I TOOK HOME 110k euros in the last 12 months. (Easy capt-Italian contract incl 5+ years loyalty bonus). Oh, I'm sorry I guess that won't make you feel better...............
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Think most Training Captain's on the larger airlines flying Jet Aircraft will be on 100k+ (inc benefits). Likes of BMI, Thomas Cook, BA, Virgin etc. BA defo don't need to be even a Training Captain - all on seniority from what I hear... as mentioned previously an SFO, longhaul with 10-15 years service is going to be on good money.
I was a contractor in Financial Services before piloting. Helped me fund the training but given the lack of piloting jobs about, sometimes I can only but reflect with a slight twinge of regret at what i've left behind - hopefully will all come good soon. The point - definitely more lucrative jobs out there if money is the objective. Anything contract/consultant related is big bucks... IT consultant, Finance Consultant(specialised) can get you anything from £300 - £1000+ per day. Work can be irregular though and sometimes hard work - remember with piloting you may be working 25% the number of hours of other types of job.
I was a contractor in Financial Services before piloting. Helped me fund the training but given the lack of piloting jobs about, sometimes I can only but reflect with a slight twinge of regret at what i've left behind - hopefully will all come good soon. The point - definitely more lucrative jobs out there if money is the objective. Anything contract/consultant related is big bucks... IT consultant, Finance Consultant(specialised) can get you anything from £300 - £1000+ per day. Work can be irregular though and sometimes hard work - remember with piloting you may be working 25% the number of hours of other types of job.
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I wish I worked 25% hours of other jobs, my duty day will be from 7.5 hours to 13 hours (that is check in to check out - not including travelling) I (we) will do 5 days most working weeks, bank holidays and weekends.
If it wasn't for this ash business I will have been up and out the door at 4am every day.
If it wasn't for this ash business I will have been up and out the door at 4am every day.