Making the Most of Airline Industry Salary Tools

Remember airline employee salaries vary widely according to experience and airline
By Sherril Steele-Carlin, Freelance Writer Using airline industry salary tools to learn more about salaries in the airline industry can be deceiving. That's because there are so many diverse jobs within this industry, from high-paying pilot jobs to low-paying baggage handler positions and everything in between. That's why you should look further than the average aviation pay scale tools.

Aviation salaries may be the most misunderstood part of the airline industry. Some airline employee salaries are based on seniority and longevity, while others are based on experience and education. Before you use airline salary tools, remember:

1. There are a wide variety of airline industry pay scales with widely varying pay.

2. You don't have to work for an airline to earn an aviation salary.

3. Consider the future of airline industry salaries when you look at an aviation career tool.

Look for specific airline salary jobs when thinking about your aviation career

Everyone seems to think about flight attendants and pilots when they think of airline jobs, but there are hundreds of behind-the-scenes jobs that also pay decently and get your foot in the door to the airline industry. Seek out specialized aviation salary tools in these niche jobs if you want to work in the aviation industry.
Try:  CBsalary.com offers Airline Customer Service Agent salary calculators, and you can calculate other airline salaries, combined with local salary cost of living calculators, as well. SimplyHired offers an average national airline industry compensation, then you can choose your aviation specialty and see what it pays. The CollegeGrad.com Salary Wizard allows you to choose your career and experience to discover what your salary will be.

Look to other industries in the aviation field if you want aviation pay without an airline job

If you're worried about the stability of the airline industry, look for a job in the aviation industry but outside the airline industry. You can work for the government, private industry, or aviation maintenance and technology, and still have your hands in the aviation business, without some of the turmoil of the ups and downs of airline pay.
Try:  The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) offers a variety of jobs in the aviation industry, from air traffic controllers to accident investigators and beyond. Their pay, benefits, and training tools gives information on what you need to work or train for these jobs. Indeed.com offers airline mechanic pay scales with the number of jobs offered in each category.

Research what's in store for airline industry pay for the future

Use salary tools and surveys to find the right aviation career for you - and what you can expect from that career in the future. Listen to the voice of experience before you jump into the jump seat, and you'll discover that there are a huge variety of aviation careers that offer stability, good pay, great working conditions, and good benefits, you just have to work to ferret them out.
Try:  Sporty's Pilot Shop offers a comprehensive U.S. Airline Salary Survey that offers information on major airlines and their salaries, including benefits and retirement information. Storming Media offers a comprehensive guide to compare career airline pilots with career Navy pilots and their earnings.

• Salary tools for airline employee salaries only tell part of the story. To get an in-depth view of the airline salary hodgepodge, talk to aviation employees, and ask them what they would do "if they had it to do over." Study information from aviation schools, too. For making the most of airline industry salary tools, make sure to cover all your bases and think about jobs that support the aviation community, too.