another thing i should ad to my above reply: (Make sure you read it!)
I dont care if you have a masters degree in advanced aeronautical theory - everything is seniority based. that said, the guy 100 numbers above you on the seniority list who has an associates degree in theatrical arts will be making more money than you, he will be getting the days off you wish you had, when vacation is available he will get it first he will get the best schedule, the longest layovers, everything you wish you got he has.
What you chose to major in means absolutely nothing to the hiring department at an airline.
They want to see the required licenses, ratings and flight time - period.
also - the fact that the U.S. department of labor statistics indicate that airline pilots as a group make over 100,000 dollars a year is an absolute farce. Yes - there are airline pilots who make in excess of 100,000 dollars a year, they are all over 50 years old, have more than 20 years seniority at their company and have worked flying jobs for next to nothing in order to get there.
These flight schools meet their quotas and make their money by advertising $100,000 airline pilot salaries to young 16 - 21 year old men. These young men like flying and they like money, they see dollar signs and they sign up.
simple truth is that every airline job has minimums and you have to meet those minimums.
If you want to make $100,000 annually you will need to be a captain for some place like American Airlines or Continental.
to make captain at American/continental you will have to have first worked your way up their seniority list as a first officer for several years.
to get a job there as a first officer two conditions have to be met
condition 1. They have to be hiring new hires (which some majors have not hired anyone since mid 2001)
condition 2. you have to have a minimum of 1500 hours total time, 1,000 hours of which must be pilot in command time of a multi-engine turbine powered airplane.
in order to get the 1,000 hours of pilot in command time in a multi engine turbine you will have to make captain at a place like American Eagle, or Continental Express.
in order to get the captain seat at American eagle or continental express you will have to have first worked your way up their seniority list as a first officer for several years.
to get a job as a first officer at a regional you will have to have a minimum of 1,000 hours total time, 200 or more hours pilot in command time in a multi engine airplane.
Since you will probably graduate flight school with all your required ratings BUT LESS THAN 300 hours total flight time... in order to get the 1,000 hours total time and 200 or more multi you will have to either
graduate at the top 10% of your class in a bridge program and hope the guaranteed interview goes well
or
be a flight instructor for about 700 bucks a month in a 172 for a couple of years and hope that an opening for a multi engine instructor opens up at the school where you work
or
haul checks in cessna 210 for about 1,000 bucks a month for a couple of years until the company moves you into the Cessna 421 so you can build multi time and move on to the regionals
or
carry cargo in a Cherokee six for about 1,000 bucks a month for a couple of years in hopes that the company will move you into their piper seneca soon so you can build multi time and move on to the regionals.
after doing all of that it will have taken you nearly 80 - 90% of your career to get to the 100,000 dollar a year mark.
if you start NOW right after graduation you will probably make that pay scale by the time you're first kid is getting ready to graduate high school.
it is a long hard road - dont let USA today, or the US dept of labor, or some flight school recruiter guide you otherwise - if you want it bad enough it will all work out but only because you busted your arse for it
you can find out what any airline pilot makes by looking here >>
http://www.willflyforfood.cc/airlinepilotpay/want to know how much you would make on the first year... go to the year one pay scals and multiply that dollar amount by about 72-75 hours BINGO there is your monthly check total.
benefits are good dental vision medical etc etc all the things you would expect, you get a 401K and all that stuff, but dont count on any kind of decent retirement... your company will probably negotiate with a bankruptcy court to screw you and thousands of other employees out of your pensions anyway.
...!
