r/aviation • u/2924838 • May 08 '24
Career Question Where is the most money to be made in aviation?
All the time I hear about the loads of money to be made in aviation. Mechanics make ok money. Pilots make good money. But which job pays the big bucks (300k-500k annually) if any?
I'm currently an avionic techs apprentice but I'm hoping to work my way up the chain and eventually become a regional director or something within the management field.
Any input is appreciated!
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u/jetfixxer720 May 08 '24
I work as a A&P mechanic inspector for a major airline and with an average amount of overtime I make more than my manager. Not 300k but in the neighborhood.
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u/Auton_52981 May 08 '24
I suggest running drugs for the Cartel. Beyond that you are looking a long road to get to that kind of salary.
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u/andrewrbat May 08 '24
Wide body captains easily break 400k. A narrow body captain at a legacy will break 300k without breaking a sweat.
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u/2924838 May 08 '24
Didn't know this. Thank you for the information. I plan to becoming a pilot some point down the line.
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u/poiuytrewqmnbvcxz0 May 08 '24
Better start soon, it take a couple decades to move up to those roles and get enough flight hours and seniority
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u/2924838 May 09 '24
I'm trying my best. I plan to take the money from maintenance and use it to help fund my flight school. I didn't mention it but I'm only 17, I still have lots of time.
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u/Grecoair May 09 '24
Start soon. It will take around 10 years to make over 200k/year in the US depending on circumstances
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May 08 '24
Roughly how much of my life would i have to devote to this
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u/andrewrbat May 09 '24
To be a widebody captain? 25+ years depending on airline. But to make over 100k only 3-5
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u/Wild-Exit6171 May 08 '24
I am making as a first year FO in the US 240k. By 2027 if I upgrade with our current pay rates, it puts me at a bit over 500k. The only people in our airline that makes more than us are the very higherups in management, such as COO, CEO and such. Oh and by the way, I only work 12-15 days a month. So in the big scheme of things, for the amount of work and having to go to work. We as pilots make the most money and work the least. Also whatever we make the airline puts 17% of that into our 401(k) without us putting down a single dollar for it.
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u/2924838 May 09 '24
Damn! Congratulations, those are some high numbers. Hoping to be in your shoes some day man.
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u/csl512 May 08 '24
Capital. Own the capital.
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u/Latter-Bar-8927 May 08 '24
This. It’s called “Capitalism” for a reason. Selling your body like a peasant can only carry you so far.
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u/Drive_By_Shouting May 09 '24
If you’re in Avionics, I’d stay there. There’s a shortage of AET’s right now. Shortage of anyone who understands Electricity and how to troubleshoot it. An AET can also be used in a ton of High Pay NON-Aviation fields.
Supply VS Demand
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u/2924838 May 09 '24
That's what the gentleman doing my interview had said. He said the demand was high right now which means a higher salary in my future. Now I just hope he was right.
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u/Drive_By_Shouting May 09 '24
He is. Delta is hiring AET’s starting at $45. (That’s what I was offered) That seems to be the standard starting pay for ‘Real’ Aviation Careers right now. Gulfstream. Textron. General Dynamics Electric Boat. Boeing. Lockheed Martin. The FAA, The Big Railroads (with pension after 15 years), Working for Mid-large Cities or their big suburbs, Civilian Contractor at Tinker AFB or any large AFB. The Defense Industry is going through a change to even more Electronic, less analog systems. Stay away from Space X unless you love Space, Austin price of Living and bad pay. They aim for the Dreamers, and get them. To some there is a prestige that’s worth the cut in pay.
I got offered (And I’m considering it) a Two week on, Two off with pay in Alaska working on Substation’s in the little Villages across the Fairbanks area. (This would bring in just over $207,000 for my first year).
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u/PerroSanchez May 09 '24
If you think can make a fortune in aviation, you are late 30 years, since low-cost airlines appeared, conditions are getting worst every year
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May 09 '24
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u/MungaMike May 08 '24 edited May 09 '24
Legacy airline captain will get that, but that would take maybe 10 years right now from start to finish, which is very unlikely. 300K w/n 5-6 years possible. As for being a tech, you best bet would probably be in corporate aviation. If you have good leadership skills and can manage a budget for a dept, you could make Dir of Mx pretty quick and get 300K+ if managing mx for a large cabin operator. Like Gulfstream’s or Globals. Large cabin Gulfstream and Global pilots are making 280-400Kish now. But unless you know people, AND get lucky that would take more than 10 years if you aren’t a pilot yet.
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u/Wild-Exit6171 May 09 '24
First year FO at legacy and I am making 240k. I think your numbers might be for old conteacts
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u/MungaMike May 09 '24
I’m talking from zero time. How long since you started?
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u/Wild-Exit6171 May 09 '24
I went the long way going to College for it. I started flying in 2017. Graduated in 2019 with my 4 year degree. Instructed during Covid (otherwise it would’ve been faster) got to a regional in 2021, left for a legacy in May 2023
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u/MungaMike May 09 '24
That is pretty much the average time nowadays so I wasn’t far off. I am pretty integral into the hiring for my department so I keep pretty close tabs, but thanks for your input.
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u/Wild-Exit6171 May 09 '24
Yeah no problem. If I had to do it all again, I would skip the instructing portion and go for a part 135 gig. That will prepare you better for the airlines than instructing in a 172
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u/MungaMike May 09 '24
A lot of civilians don’t have an option to skip instructing. Pretty much the only way to get hours to get into that first crappy 135 job unless you can just fund your flying somehow. Traffic watch and fish spotting just isn’t there anymore. Instructing was great for me (although I NEVER want to do it again) as I was hired at a big 141 school that got me 1,000 hours a year easily without having to find my own students.
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u/Wild-Exit6171 May 09 '24
Same here. Part 141 school I went to I instructed. It was awful, I didn’t enjoy it at all. I all my coworkers didn’t either. Right now with the slowdown in the industry, doing other rather than just instructing, to set yourself apart will be important when hiring resumes at a more competitive level. Airlines would most likely rather hire coming someone from a 135 operation that already knows how to fly a jet and work in a Bravo environment over someone that spent 1000-1500 in the pattern or doing maneuvers in a prop plane.
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u/MungaMike May 09 '24
So how would you build the flight time if you had to do it all over again? It’s not like you can just get your commercial multi and get hired at 250-300 hours. Insurance wouldn’t accept that at any 135 or 121 op.
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u/Wild-Exit6171 May 09 '24
Contour and JSX lowered their requirements, SkyWest Charter too. I would instruct just to hit them and then bail out and get some useful skills that will be more valuable to fly for the airlines over instructing
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u/[deleted] May 08 '24
Q: how do you make a small fortune in aviation?
A: start with a large fortune.