Should I Go Back?

[aisking]

Was wondering if any of you went into this career in your late 20s and gave up a high paying job for it?

I am 27 years old making $120,000 in corporate sales selling tech but I have always wanted to become a pilot ever since I was 12. I actually went and got my PPL in 2015 but haven't flown since. Every 1-2 years I get a serious feel for the bug and I'm always drawn to aviation and flying airliners.

My question is, has anyone of you guys given up lucrative careers to become a pilot and was it worth it why/why not. I understand my outlook start is a 30k/year FI job but I'm still drawn. I have a loving GF who is somewhat supportive to this but it would mean a great lifestyle change and I don't think she understands what this career would fully encompass.

Anyone made a similar switch?

[FL320]

Was wondering if any of you went into this career in your late 20s and gave up a high paying job for it?

I am 27 years old making $120,000 in corporate sales selling tech but I have always wanted to become a pilot ever since I was 12. I actually went and got my PPL in 2015 but haven't flown since. Every 1-2 years I get a serious feel for the bug and I'm always drawn to aviation and flying airliners.

My question is, has anyone of you guys given up lucrative careers to become a pilot and was it worth it why/why not. I understand my outlook start is a 30k/year FI job but I'm still drawn. I have a loving GF who is somewhat supportive to this but it would mean a great lifestyle change and I don't think she understands what this career would fully encompass.

Anyone made a similar switch?

It’s a very good timing to become a pilot; it won’t take long until you get back to 120k. In terms of lifestyle: I am just shy of 40; this year T4 will be about 300k…working about 14 days per month, plus I don’t have the feeling of working…
Lots of time off with the GF who is not required to work anymore…

[Canadaflyer46]

Was wondering if any of you went into this career in your late 20s and gave up a high paying job for it?

I am 27 years old making $120,000 in corporate sales selling tech but I have always wanted to become a pilot ever since I was 12. I actually went and got my PPL in 2015 but haven't flown since. Every 1-2 years I get a serious feel for the bug and I'm always drawn to aviation and flying airliners.

My question is, has anyone of you guys given up lucrative careers to become a pilot and was it worth it why/why not. I understand my outlook start is a 30k/year FI job but I'm still drawn. I have a loving GF who is somewhat supportive to this but it would mean a great lifestyle change and I don't think she understands what this career would fully encompass.

Anyone made a similar switch?

It’s a very good timing to become a pilot; it won’t take long until you get back to 120k. In terms of lifestyle: I am just shy of 40; this year T4 will be about 300k…working about 14 days per month, plus I don’t have the feeling of working…
Lots of time off with the GF who is not required to work anymore…

To break 120k would take 4 years in at WJ, or 5+ in at AC on current payscales. Both of those jobs would require 3-5 years working to build hours to apply. So i'd say it would indeed take a great deal of time to "get back to 120k". Glad you got your boasting in though!

[FL320]

Was wondering if any of you went into this career in your late 20s and gave up a high paying job for it?

I am 27 years old making $120,000 in corporate sales selling tech but I have always wanted to become a pilot ever since I was 12. I actually went and got my PPL in 2015 but haven't flown since. Every 1-2 years I get a serious feel for the bug and I'm always drawn to aviation and flying airliners.

My question is, has anyone of you guys given up lucrative careers to become a pilot and was it worth it why/why not. I understand my outlook start is a 30k/year FI job but I'm still drawn. I have a loving GF who is somewhat supportive to this but it would mean a great lifestyle change and I don't think she understands what this career would fully encompass.

Anyone made a similar switch?

It’s a very good timing to become a pilot; it won’t take long until you get back to 120k. In terms of lifestyle: I am just shy of 40; this year T4 will be about 300k…working about 14 days per month, plus I don’t have the feeling of working…
Lots of time off with the GF who is not required to work anymore…

To break 120k would take 4 years in at WJ, or 5+ in at AC on current payscales. Both of those jobs would require 3-5 years working to build hours to apply. So i'd say it would indeed take a great deal of time to "get back to 120k". Glad you got your boasting in though!

Believe me, some majors in Canada are hiring people with about 1 year flying experience as we speak. Plus they are looking at hiring cadets straight out of flight school.

[Canadaflyer46]

It’s a very good timing to become a pilot; it won’t take long until you get back to 120k. In terms of lifestyle: I am just shy of 40; this year T4 will be about 300k…working about 14 days per month, plus I don’t have the feeling of working…
Lots of time off with the GF who is not required to work anymore…

To break 120k would take 4 years in at WJ, or 5+ in at AC on current payscales. Both of those jobs would require 3-5 years working to build hours to apply. So i'd say it would indeed take a great deal of time to "get back to 120k". Glad you got your boasting in though!

Believe me, some majors in Canada are hiring people with about 1 year flying experience as we speak. Plus they are looking at hiring cadets straight out of flight school.

You’re not wrong there. There’s never been a better time to become a pilot here.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton ... -1.6922219

[digits_]

The 120k job won't stay 120k for 5 years, it will increase.
5 years of 30k - 60k jobs, builds up quite a deficit as well. Add 100k for a CPL on top of that.

If you're looking at it financially, I don't think it will make sense. Buy a private plane and fly around for fun. You'll be happier. You'll also likely ask yourself 'what if'. But if you do it, you might sometimes regret it. It can be quite a tricky choice.

But purely financially? I don't think it's worth it. The super high salaries in the US happened almost overnight, and can quite easily vaporize as quickly. Canada is a bit more tempered, but the same effects apply.

If you're worried about the lifestyle change, it's another bullet point for the 'don't do it' camp.

Will you make more money as an airline pilot over your upcoming career? Perhaps, but you won't see the advantages for 20 years. Do you want to 'sacrifice' the next 20 years to be potentially rich in your 50s-60s? Going from 120k to 30k is a big change.

Go get your PPL. You'll likely love it. Then get your night rating and do your CPL time building at 2 am. See if you still love it. You'll be a bit older (although not much) when entering the flying game. The older you get the harder it is on your body to deal with timezone changes. Most high paying pilot positions require you to deal with that. Remember, you have to hang in there for over 20 years to make it worth it financially...

[nohojob]

At 27, the priority is to find a career you're excited about.

[pilotidentity]

You are still young so why not follow your dream?

Everyone on here that is a working pilot somehow did it and so can you.

Don’t worry about the money, you will be able to meet your needs, and be happy doing it.

Go for it.

[flyingjerry]

Software sales in the US has really good earning potential. There's always the choice to try that and fly for fun.

[Flight94]

I did at 34, never looked back. I still don't make as much, but I'm close, and I work FAR less. And when I'm off, I'm off. No more 24/7 calls and emails. 27 is young still, go for it.

[JasonE]

If I was 10 years younger in your position I'd do it. I get bored staring at 3 computer screens all day.

[lowoleo22]

I made the switch around age 30 and had a cushy government job making over $100k/year and have zero regrets switching. I still don't make as much but like another poster said I have way more days off and my quality of life is much better. Within 5 years of making the switch I can be back at my old salary. But be realistic about what's needed to be a pilot and the work required. For the first few years I've had to use my savings to supplement my $32k/year income. That being said pilot pay is going up and is expected to continue going up for the foreseeable future.

If you want to be part of the rat race and money is your goal it's probably best to stay put. If you're looking for for a career that provides the lifestyle that flying can, make the jump and the money will come.

[yowflyer23]

I’m also 27 years old and I was in a similar predicament earlier this year. I had a comfortable corporate 9-5 lifestyle, “somewhat supportive girlfriend,” a predictable life, etc. One difference was that I already had a CPL since it was Covid that forced me away in 2020, but the choice was still very similar.

In the end, I decided that I couldn’t look at another spreadsheet or PowerPoint presentation and I took the plunge. I figured that work will take up one of the largest chunks of my life whether I like it or not, and I might as well do something that I love doing. I also thought about renting a Cessna for fun, but I knew that I would have feelings of regret every time I heard an Air Canada callsign over the radio. It would’ve been the ultimate tease of my childhood dream!

If you love your job, the effects of that will come home with you. You’ll have more energy to give to your family/friends and you’ll be happier overall. It also puts less pressure on trying to have this perfect life outside of work to make up for how miserable your day job makes you. I was lucky enough to ride jumpseat on an Airbus aircraft while working in my corporate role (I worked at an airline), and to say that the pilots loved their jobs would be a huge understatement. Their happiness/satisfaction was contagious and I just had this permanent smile on my face. That experience factored heavily into my decision to return to flying.

It came with some sacrifice though. The girl didn’t stick around when she realized the extent to which our lifestyle would change, I had to move across the country, and I’m barely scraping by financially with my entry-level flying gig. I would actually make more on EI. However, I love my job and I am so much happier than I ever would be sitting at a desk. And with the experience I’m building, this struggle will not last forever. Times are good to be a pilot right now. There’s pay raises across the board and hiring minimums are lower than they used to be. You might not have to make drastic sacrifices for as long as you might think.

Based on what you’ve written, I would go for it. Obviously, there’s so many nuances to a decision and you should do what’s best for you. All the best!

[dialdriver]

I quit my industrial job to go flying when I was 26. I would have retired 6 years ago with a DB pension if I stayed. I will never recoup my losses from the switch, but it's been fun.

[JasonE]

You guys are killing me as I take a break from excel reading this...I'm just too old now.

[Heavy Rayn]

Absolutely go for it. Not a direct answer to your question for you but here’s my perspective on your situation. I’m a couple years younger than you and I’m earning about the same as a medevac captain. Just fly your tail off and get your hours up as fast as you can and you’ll be able to limit your time in that sub 50k income range. Short term pain for long term gain. The 100k plus pilot salary is easier to achieve than ever before with the current state of the industry. If you’re worried about the finances side of things consider if your current position is something that you could do on a reduced schedule/part time basis to supplement the low pay you’ll receive while working as an instructor? Could mean it’ll take a bit longer to get your hours up but you’ll see less of a financial impact to make the switch.

[nohojob]

You guys are killing me as I take a break from excel reading this...I'm just too old now.

Cannot help it, how old are you?

[JasonE]

Not quite 50.

[Flight94]

I know a guy that took a 40 year break from flying, went back at the age of 64, doing pretty well in the 703 world, and is loving every minute. The only limit is the one you put on yourself.

[nohojob]

I know a guy that took a 40 year break from flying, went back at the age of 64, doing pretty well in the 703 world, and is loving every minute. The only limit is the one you put on yourself.

Well, although I agree that you could start at any age, it might not be financially possible.

[Prodriver]

I just had a 62 yr old retired buddy who knocked off his ATPL go to a jet company and fly an Airbus. Your are never to old if you have the right paper or qualifications and attitude.