[quote=FlyerInHi][quote=flyer]A couple of our nieces husbands who recently graduated from great colleges just became firefighters, while both of the girls are MD’s. A sign of the times?[/quote]
Pilots make what now? $20k starting salary. unless you’re from rich family, the job is not that cool.
I think that the typical white male w/ high school and some college is in trouble as far as social standing. Girls study harder and will get better degrees.
Technology is now well a established sector of the economy. Except for a few, bluster and creativity will not open doors and pay the bills. Advanced degrees are required these days. The high value workers are from all over the world, Ukraine, Serbia, China, India, etc… with masters and doctorates. Look at the demographics of graduate schools.
Not saying that it’s right or wrong, only that people will have to make psychological adjustments. I’m OK with being a stay at home husband. Would not bother me one bit.
Flyer, I know you like to advocate “living the life of your dreams”…. But statistically how many really get to do that?[/quote]
First, thanks Xbox for the info on firefighters. Hopefully the kids in the family who have chosen this field will be some of the lucky ones.
Regarding aviation and pilots, FIH. There have been many reports that confirm what you mentioned about the low pay scale today. The $20K you mentioned mostly applies to a co-pilot with a small commuter airline, not one of the major carriers.
That, along with the expense of pilot training, is why there is, and will continue to be such a tremendous pilot shortage, which will result in, you guessed it, MUCH higher airfares and fees.
If you want to be a pilot today, you have to be prepared to fork out at least $150K for training, + the cost of your college degree (if you want to be hired by a major airline), and after all that, there’s still no guarantee you’ll be hired. One mistake in the “sim” and it’s “bye-bye” at the first interview. Believe me, I’ve seen it.
Even though my grandparents paid for all of their grandchildren’s educational pursuits–college + pilot training for me, med school for others, etc.,etc., if I were a kid today, and interested in aviation, I doubt if I would pursue it.
On the + side, in my general age group, 40’s-50’s+ $300K+ is not an uncommon annual income. In addition to that, you add lots of perks and benefits, thanks to the union. Plus, it’s almost impossible to be fired, (not that I’ve tried) so, yes, for me I lived the dream I had from the time I was 16–but for younger generations of pilots, that is largely no longer true.
The job also gave me the financial ability to invest in property from the time I was fairly young, have a family, etc., etc., so I have no complaints, but, I do agree that, sadly, “living your dreams” is much more difficult today.
