So I had to take a non-flying job during a medical grounding and was shocked to go from crappy HAA pay of $76K to over $110K in an admin job.  What a difference.  Single income family with a few kids and it was like a breath of fresh air.  No stressing over bills, freedom to purchase some needed important things intsead of costantly putting them off.  Getting at least $10K bonus here shortly too.  Yes, I feel the need to get a hobby since the job isn't as stimulating, but having cash to save more for retirement and enjoy doing things as a family is pretty awesome. 

Had some time to dwell on it and pretty frustrated that a 20 years helicopter career led me here (yes, I'm unwilling to live in the GOM region for a gas taxi job, in a middle of a big city to fly corporate, or spend half the year away to do a myriad of other travel jobs that do pay well but never see my wife/kids).  

Yes, lots of cool stories in my career.  Yes it was my choice to do what I loved.  Yes it is my choice to actually stay here.  

Frustrated that a 20 year career sees the same pay that A TON of starting salaries are for pretty much no-skill jobs (or jobs that will teach you everything you need to do pretty quickly).  Facilities manager, HVAC repair, truck driver, lots of admin jobs, lots of IT jobs that take almost no training, warehouse work.  For real, get on Indeed, ZipRecruiter, LinkedIn and look around.

It's almost insulting... especially in today's economy.  And I do know that HAA starting pay is in the low-mid $80's now.  And, yes, there are other helicopter jobs out there besides HAA.  HAA is just the most prevalent job all across the country no matter where you live.

I consistently have people shocked when I tell them I wouldn't go back becasue I get paid better now.  

Hats off to you that have stayed in a helicopter job long enough to get senior pay, have a specific location that gives IFR/COLA/etc that takes you over $100K, etc. or have some other financial situation to be able to afford to continue doing what you love.

For those sitting on the fence to try something else, it's worth it.

Reality check. Would love to be able to toss up a few likes on this. 

I'm genuinely happy for you.  Glad things worked out. Was in the same situation several yrs ago, & had the same thoughts, ( flying r/w). What's the old saying-when one door shuts?   Hard to leave, but glad I did.

I'm kinda in the same boat.

I see myself looking at the door right now.  I keep telling myself 2 more years.  Just 2 more and I'm gonna go find something else....  Closer to home and less stress/ road rage.

Made 100k for the second time ever in my life this year, w/zero ot.  But it's sad it took this long.  24 years with a company, hitting milestones, and I'm not even a pilot.  Line avionics. 

That's right, I'm the gonna retire at 50 guy.  2 more years bitches.

They pump min wage up, keep pumping it up and now a 100k job is chicken feed again.  When I'm paying $16 dollars everytime I want a burger at a crap food res.   Don't even think about going buy a new truck right now unless you wanna pay 80 grand.

I reflect on the $#!t I know, degrees I hold, systems knowledge gained over the years since I was a wee lad, 1993 in the AF wrenching on heavy iron....peers can't even hold a candle or even fathom what I worked on/with, done, fixed.

All that thought process runs though my head and I keep telling myself, bro it's good to be underemployed at a menial job, it means you can drop the nastiest don't give a Fk emails telling folks above and below you just where they can get off, because they are always wrong and I'm always right.  Time and time again.  They know it.  I know it.  Everyone knows it.  But yet, I'm sure the IT chick with just 2 years at the company is also probably making 100k.  Where's the justice?  There is no justice in the world we live in.

Aviation is not what it used to be anymore.  There's no prestige, not when an Only Fans chick can out wage you by millions in just a single year. 

Not sure where to go or what to do after this, but it probably won't be working on helicopters.

Might hire me some asian underaged sex workers and open up an underground brothel for the Epstein types.  Seems like a good business plan.  Maybe a dispensary.  Maybe both.

up disgraced and dead in prison had a "good business plan" lol

I think avionics guru should marry the IT girl.  She knocks down 100K.  He could have retired last year.  He just needs a new plan. 

so you were making 76k after 20 years? there really isn't a job out there that STARTS less than that. and please tell me more about this "admin job" that pays you 110 bro. no, there are NOT a "ton" of jobs that pay 80k with no training. yes, look at indeed and get back to me on the pay. you people are idiots.

You obviously haven't spent any serious time on job sites.  Car salesmen, truck drivers, UPS/FEDEX drivers... see them all the time.  You'd be surprised.  

now were back to truck drivers. anybody breathing can get a job selling cars but very few people do well at it. you'll be lucky to make 50k as a first year trucker. I've done it bro. UPS IS NOT hiring anybody without LOTS of experience. fedex is a garbage, non union operation with LOW pay. average fedex driver pay is 20 bucks an hour. you're dreaming if you think all these jobs pay great.

please tell me more about your 110k "admin job" with the 10k bonus, though. 

says he was making 76k after 20 years in ems and also says the starting EMS pilot pay is in the 80's. that's weird.

I left just over a year ago before the big industry pay bump in response to the "pilot shortage".  A few months after I left, I believe my pay would have jumped to $86K at AMC.    

When I first started in HAA in 2019ish the starting pay range was $68-74 and I started at $72.  Was told HAA starting pay range now is $76-86K???  Don't know what it really is, nor do I care.  

We make compromises to be in aviation. We do it for the love, not the money. Our employers know this. They pay us just enough to keep us coming back every week. That's the bizarre agreement. We do it until we just can't do it anymore. I did it for a long time, proved my point that I could. It was never about the money. I left before they kicked me out or I ended up dead in a smoking hole. I feel lucky, but there were many other choices I could've made, as there are for all of us. Good luck to all of you who stay in it, and you who decide to leave.

I was in a simular situation and applied for a great HAA management job with high pay and excellent benefits.  I thought I'd be a shoe-in with 22 years HEMS/HAA experience, but due to DEI they selected someone else with 1/3 of my qualifications.   

Thank goodness not every position is based on seniority only.

you're not going to stumble into any 110k "admin job" and the rest of those jobs don't pay crap.

about this "admin" job and what are your responsibilities?