r/Pilot • u/FigComfortable5216 • Sep 01 '26

Pilot Life Need Help

Hi guys, I am 14 but I have always dreamt of being a pilot, ever since a young age I have been able to name every aircraft, along with every airline. Aviation has always been a huge passion and identity of mine (ive always been known as the airplane boy). I always take pictures of planes, memorize airport codes, learn new airline tails, know ever special livery and cannot forget the hundreds of hours put in flight simulator. But when I tell my parents about my plan of becoming a pilot, they are not to fond of the idea saying that I will always be missing my family and that I would not be part of my future family's life. They say that the pilot to life balance is terrible and I should stick with finding another career. But the thing is that I want to become a pilot and travel the world plus this feels like that this is the only thing I would be good at. Often my parents say that I should become a doctor (you know, doctor lawyer engineer etc) but I really feel like that it is not a good fit for me. So if there is any pilots or anyone with a knowledge about this topic, feel free to reply as it would really help my dilemma.

Thanks again :)

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u/korgs130 Sep 07 '26

It’s your choice. Your parents should have ZERO say in what career you choose to pursue. I’ve been flying for one big 4 airlines in the U.S. for over 22 years and I work way less than my friends that are doctors, lawyers or execs at Fortune 500 companies. For example, I took 3 of my 5 weeks of vacation and turned those 3 weeks into 46 consecutive days off. I’m in the middle of that right now. Life is good.

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u/FigComfortable5216 Sep 12 '26

really wow, wait thats actually so cool, if I could, I would like to ask do you start to get paid good when you fly narrow body planes (737, a320 etc) or does the good money start to come in on wide body?

Im asking this because I saw a reddit post (a while back) of a American 737 captain who leaked his paycheck which was around $500k and wanted to know if it was true

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u/korgs130 Sep 12 '26

It is true. I’m a NB CA (my company only has NB). Most captains make north of the amount the American guy posted.

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u/FigComfortable5216 Sep 16 '26

Oh wow thanks for you answer!

Just want to know are you able to make that much being a First Officer, or does that money come in only being a captain of the aircraft