Warbird Information Exchange

Get into fast boats.

Other than a pilot of a large airline or a governmental agency, I don't think you will make enough to live on. If it has to be aircraft related, I would think an FAA controler or something on those lines.
Or in manufacturing like at Boeing, there is always a huge need for machinists, since there aren't many of you younger fella's doing that.
Another thing to consider would be heavy equipment, a union apprentice starts out pretty high on the pay scale. Also electricians. I supppose a union airline mechanic can make some big $. But overall I think aviation isn't all that great for jobs especially for all the required education. Its kinda like getting a masters to become a school teacher.

Not all the aviation jobs are stick & rudder, or mechanic based. The avionics industry requires both computer skills and aviation knowledge. Rockwell Collins, Smiths, Garmin, Honeywell, are a few high paying workplaces that come to mind.

At Jeppesen Sanderson, I work in NavData Standards, my group provides data to the avionic companies for the OEM Flight Director, we provide the necessary information to get from point A to point B. I am an ex-mechanic who chose to stop chasing programs and hot-new projects, while I loved the work, I hated the pay. Still after 8 years I'm learning how to live as an inside dog (cube dwelling dilbert now days) as opposed to outside ramp dog sniffing Jet A and roming the flightline.

This may be a little off subject, but what does an entry level aviation mechanic make? College degree vs someone who grew in the field and learned the hard way.
Im an automotive tech with a college degree and ten years post college exp. Its a long hard road to make money but I think time and patientce has paid off(with some luck!)
with all the education and money it's a fact that it took me a long time to learn to work with my hands and my knowlege together. Ive met alot of people with all the education and still could not even fix a sandwitch or know how to use thier tools. fixing things and replacing parts are too different subjects, and then fabercating could be considerd an art of its own. There is no perfect Textbook on how to fix stuff, sometimes you have to f-*!k alot of sh%^ up before you can understand what went wrong

sorry if off subject

Now Greasemonkey that is a good technical aviation term if I ever did see one.

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Chris Henry
EAA Aviation Museum Manager

Aerospace in general is somewhat cyclical. Airlines have their ups and down and even the restoration of warbirds can vary based on how well the economy is doing and how much disposable income is floating around.

Let's say I could find you a job restoring warbirds in Southern California. You have no experience so you would need to be trained. It would be a tough road to be able to rent a room and feed yourself in this area for $8-$10/hr. As a new A&P mechanic at the local FBO, maybe you could make $15-$18/hr.?

If you could find an airline mechanic or aerospace manufacturing technician position (union jobs) you could probably earn a decent living. At Boeing in Long Beach though everyone with less than 20 years experience has been laid off for a long time due to union seniority. Because health care expenses have gone up so much, the retirement plans don't cover medical for retirees like they used to. Because of that everyone pretty much works until they get carried out on a stretcher rather than retire. The average age is like 52 years old now!

The days of your first professional job being the place you retire from are long gone. In my opinion, education is the best way to ensure success. That's why I asked if you want a job or a career.

With a 4-year engineering degree (mechanical engineering is more versatile in my opinion rather than aerospace) you could make $45k-$60k in today's dollars to start. Instead of turning wrenches you could actually design the airplanes of the future. This is my chosen career path, so it is where I have the most data at my fingertips.

Of course you could also become an attorney specializing in aviation subjects or any number of other aviation related careers. It depends on how well you can apply yourself in school and whether or not you are willing to invest the 4+ years of scholastic work. Not sure about in Canada, but there are plenty of scholarships and student loan possibilities at most universities.

Bottom line in my opinion is that you will get an excellent return on your educational investment unless you take up education or liberal arts.