r/aviationmaintenance • u/Barb3rian • 1d ago
Don’t know what to do
I work for a major making $53/hr now and in less than 2 years I’ll be at $70/hr. The problem is I’m miserable. Graveyard shifts, workplace drama, and stress on my body are all starting to affect me negatively.
I have an opportunity to switch careers from aviation to project managing at a marble contracting company. M-F normal daytime shifts, small and family like work environment, and zero stress on the body. I have been drinking daily since I started aviation maintenance 5 years ago.
The thing is I’ll be starting at $40/hr until I learn the ropes, and potentially making $65+ in a year or two.
Would it be a smart move to switch over for my health and happiness? I’ll be giving up medical, strong 401k, flight benefits, and a strong union.
I have worked 2 weeks at this marble company and it has been great. Getting lots of sunlight, great sleep, and best of all I stopped drinking.
I’m 32, engaged, no kids. What would you do?
Edit: I really appreciate each and every one of your insightful feedbacks. If nothing else, the industry has been rough, but the community has been the best thing to come from it. Thank you all.
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u/nefariou 1d ago
Your mental health is important. If your job is making you miserable, make the career change. Stress kills as does loneliness and misery.
Keep your A&P handy in case you miss it or find a PT job to supplement your new Project Management one until you exceed your previous pay rate.
The new job should allow you to work on getting a family if that’s a goal or at least hang out with “normal” people on the weekends.
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u/SaltySurfer01 1d ago
That A&P will still be in your wallet if you decide that the new gig isn’t for you. I left to pursue a teaching job and came back after a year when I decided that it wasn’t for me and the doors weren’t closed to me.
Don’t stay in a job where you’re miserable!
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u/thenamewithitall 1d ago
Welcome to Human Factors of Aviation. Seems like you might be experiencing burnout, could be time for a scenery change, put your resume out there to other airlines / maintenance organisations and see if there’s a better fit for your needs. It might be hard but maybe slowing down your drinking habits and replacing with something healthy might change your outlook. Hell, I’m no therapist though.
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u/Just_top_it_off 1d ago
Do what makes you happy.
If you don’t like marble then you can apply your knowledge elsewhere and fix industrial generators or something.
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u/Lopsided_Warning_504 1d ago
I just want to say the daily drinking might be more of a cause than a symptom of your issues
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u/apolloramsey 1d ago
Money is worthless if you don’t have health or happiness. I worked way too long in a job I didn’t like and regret not quitting years ago and take less money for a short period. One of best moves I had was leaving my job.
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u/ifishforhoes 1d ago
not sure there’s any unions in the majors that are strong. You can’t even strike lmao
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u/Obvious_Macaron2555 1d ago
Sounds like you know what you want to do. There are always pros and cons to every decision we make. Making money is great and is obviously needed but quality of life trumps all in my opinion. You are young and sounds like in a few years you will be back to making good money. Hell $40 an hour isn't really bad at all. Sit down with your soon to be wife and go over the pros and cons for BOTH of you. Make a decision as a team and roll with it.
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u/Smoedog 1d ago
I left project management to get back into Aviation after I left the Air Force....sales and customers are the worst lol
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u/Barb3rian 1d ago
I can agree with that. Best part of aviation is dealing with machines rather than humans lol
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u/nexrad19 Quicker to Sticker 1d ago
If you like the pay and benefits, search in your company’s internal career page for other positions. QA/QC, project management, training, CASS, SMS, etc. All these positions require an A&P and are typically dayshift. Downside is they are only typically offered in main HQs so if your not there and dont want to move, the marble company will probably be your best bet.
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u/KhmerFriedDog 1d ago
I wouldn’t fully switch to the marble industry just yet. Especially in light of all the tariffs. I would try to tough it out a bit longer ~6 months just to see how everything plays out. Last thing you would want would be to switch right now and get laid off, US isn’t even a player in marble production.
I’d definitely look around your area and see what else aviation has to offer. I left a major for a corporate flight department and I could not be happier. It opened my eyes to this whole new world of aviation that I didn’t really know existed. I also didn’t have any corporate experience at all, so it’s possible for anyone with experience to get hired.
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u/KB_jetfixr 1d ago
Do what makes you happy and healthy. If you can afford the pay cut, then take it. I know exactly how you feel and eventually I would like to get out of aviation as well.
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u/PuzzleheadedCourt832 1d ago
I'll go against the grain and this thread and say don't do it.
While midnights can be bad for your health, if you're getting close to being an alcoholic.. it's not likely the cause. There's probably a deeper reason.
I don't know how it is at SWA but at United we've got guys at 1 years in being FORCED to swings at some stations. Sounds like you're already a few years in, are you not close to getting off mids at all? Are you at a small station?
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u/Barb3rian 1d ago
I’m at LAX, not tiny but not DAL or PHX big. I’m not that far in seniority but realistically I don’t think I’ll be seeing the light of day for another 5-10 years at least. Regardless, the old timers here have a habit of being friendly in front of you and talking shit behind you. Some harbor a lot of hatred from when they got hazed as newbies in the old days and can’t stand to see some of us have “better” than they used to.
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u/Junior_Lavishness_96 23h ago
That’s what i experienced, they think it was done to them when they were new, so now it’s ok to do it to the new ones
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u/Sharkbaithoohaha004 1d ago
Idk your living situation but is there a base you could move to where your seniority would get you a better shift?
Also, any hobby you could take up to replace drinking?
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u/Barb3rian 1d ago
Unfortunately I’m stuck at LAX due to family. And I tried quitting for so long but I keep relying on it to take the edge off. It might be other issues that leads me to drink, but it works for me for now.
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u/Sharkbaithoohaha004 1d ago
Fair, but also knowing you’re in LA, making $40 an hour sounds miserable to me.
Would you be able to instead staying up after work and sleeping in the after noon? That way you can get some sunlight?
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u/AlisVolatPrioriis 23h ago
When I was at the 5 year mark I was looking for a way out. I looked at other carriers, jobs and cities. Ended up moving and staying with the same carrier. I can't tell you if it was the right decision or the wrong one. But I do know that after 5 years the golden handcuffs go on and are hard to shake. Good luck, and take care of yourself.
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u/auron8772 1d ago
You could also try moving to corporate or GA. You'll be making anywhere from 30-45 with your experience so far. No nights (unless you work AOG and still wouldn't be overnight), a lot less drama, and benefits will be about the same except no flight benefits (most likely, there are a few that have station agreements). You won't have a union, though.
Almost all shops work M-F 0800-1600 or similar in GA with some on-call weekend work. You could also take the test for your IA, and that would help increase pay a little if you work GA. You probably won't hit 65-70 in GA, but I can promise you'll be a lot happier and hopefully drinking a lot less or not drinking at all.
Corporate will be a bit higher in pay and could be working in a hangar or working AOG. If in hangar, you'll have the standard hours or maybe 4/10s. If AOG, it's kind of a crapshoot. Some places do 7on/7off. My job has no schedule but can take off as needed with little issue.
I hope this helps some. I wish you the best and hope things get better for you.
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u/mitchellsworth 1d ago
you can always come back to maintenance . go for it. plus those big airlines sound terrible. depends on the people but I;ve found two places with great people so they do exist.
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u/CenturyHelix 1d ago
Engaged with no kids is the ideal time to be experimental, especially if you’re burnt out. I just left a “small, family like environment” maintenance shop because I was burnt out with that kind of thing. Just know that no work environment will be perfect but the change in scenery will do wonders for your health
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u/Spikey01234 1d ago
Well stop drinking every day and see where you're at there. Sounds like you're addicted to alcohol bud. Literally "drank every day since i started aviation for 5 years" you have a dependency and it's not just mental.
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u/Zestyclose-Device152 1d ago
Do you hit the gym? If not maybe starting too can help improve stress on your body, along with a good diet. I’m 1yr into a major, and I get it man I do. But you also don’t want to lose the seniority you’ve built up. But as others have said, quality of life is more valuable than a higher salary. How have you managed to work 2 weeks with this new gig? Still doing shifts at the hangar too? Can always try to give up some shifts, and catch some rest, time away from the work place. But you don’t want to be miserable and make less at the same work place 😆 it’s tough cause you’ve committed so much time but I hope you find what’s best for you. Maybe we can catch a drink after work one of these days, I’m at lax too 😂
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u/Koolklink54 1d ago
Life is short do what makes you happy. I took less money to get off night shift and I don't think I'll ever go back.
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u/e30bimmer 23h ago
Take a leave of absence. I worked for a major, took a leave of absence to pursue to pursue a corporate gig. If it didn’t work out, I was able to go back.
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u/Barb3rian 23h ago
I looked up our union contract and our company allows only 30 days. I thought it would be better to just give my shifts away for now and maintain the 90 hour minimum a month to stay fully employed while I dip my toes in that other field.
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u/e30bimmer 23h ago
That definitely works too. As you know, tons of people work more than 1 job. Give your days away. If the other career doesn’t work out, you do try going in mx planning or another avenue at the company. Sometimes it offers better hours.
I agree with nightshift. It took away the fun of being a mechanic for me. Working until 2 or 3 am was ok. But working at 6 and 7 am when the sun was coming up really through me off.
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u/ExternalNo9969 23h ago
at the end of the day you only live once man do whatever makes you happy and starting out at $40/hr doing something you enjoy is incredible
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u/Junior_Lavishness_96 23h ago
I was at a major for 7 years on graveyards, my mental health got so bad I had to get away. Lost the job eventually. Now I’m more interested in things that are different rather than another graveyard job fixing airplanes, with a massive pay cut and more responsibility to boot.
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u/BobThompson77 23h ago
For some people, shift work screws them up. Personally it wrecked me and gave me constant headaches. Getting pit of aviation into a 9-5 office job was a breath of fresh air. I eat the same time each day and my sleep is predictable. I much prefer it.
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u/Isoaubieflash 22h ago
Whatever gets you off the drink man, I used to fabricate tow bars and battery boxes for Cessnas and my employer used to talk about guys that would fall off the track leaving wrenches in the turbines and costing his company 100's of thousands of dollars.
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u/SomeDude2104 22h ago
I've heard people claim the only mechanics who quit the majors are retirees. I'm certainly an exception to that as I quit a little over 2 years in. While alcohol is not my vice, I can definitely relate to feeling miserable. I felt like if I quit I would be throwing away such a sought-after position and regret it forever. Fast forward to today and I'm much much happier (no more recurrent existential crisis at the start of every work week). Definitely miss the benefits but don't regret it yet and I'd do it again in a second. Best of luck whatever you choose!
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u/GrouchyStomach7635 22h ago
Is night shift that bad?
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u/SomeDude2104 22h ago
Night shift can be toxic for your health. In my case, night shift was the least toxic part of that work environment lol
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u/Barb3rian 22h ago
Some people handle it well, but it is going against your natural circadian rhythm so sleep won’t feel as restful as it should.
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u/StarLabs24 3h ago
What did you switch into?
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u/SomeDude2104 46m ago
Still in aviation maintenence, working at a 145 repair station doing line maintenance. It's been an infinitely more chill environment with alot more downtime. Pay is about the same but worse benefits
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u/Senior-Cantaloupe-69 21h ago
I would honestly talk to a mental health professional. What about the work is so bad? Are you able to avoid the drama? Maybe some coping mechanisms. Alcohol isn’t helping.
I mean this with total support. The place really could suck. But, I’d hate to see you take that pay cut and find it didn’t solve your issue
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u/DLBaz92 21h ago
I know what it means to be miserable in aviation. I have worked at a few MRO’s and the environment and people were toxic. I’ve never worked for any airlines just corporate and I know the majors pay better.
I’m now in a good spot but it took a lot of hard work for years.
I’d say, if you get this project management experience and you enjoy it… that might be the career path you should look into. You can get certified as a PMP. At that point you can work in many different industries which will give you many more options to make more than $70 an HR. If you become the best PM you could possibly be I’m sure the money will come. Best of luck to you!
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u/Nice_Motor2120 20h ago
Stop drinking. You’ve grown complacent. Stop drinking. Stop drinking. Stop drinking. You have an amazing job. Stop drinking. If you still hate your job after not drinking. Then quit.
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u/Excellent_Safe596 19h ago
Is the money worth the potential addiction and wear and tear on your body? For me I enjoy working on planes occasionally and usually to help a fellow pilot. If I had to do it every single day I would end up hating it. The issue is twofold, the damage being done now and the damage that will show up later when your body is broken to the point that you have so much pain you have to drink to get through that shift. We all know the 12 dirty dozen, that’s fine to determine if you are in shape to complete the task to standard but it should have been 13, they need to ask if the work will negatively impact you in the future.
Your happiness and a pain free existence is more important than any money in the world. You do a good job at anything and show your worth and the money will come but if you tear your body up and get to the point to where it’s difficult to do any work then you will regret your decisions and have an early retirement not of your choosing.
Take care of yourself. Maybe pickup some extra work here and there in the evenings to keep your A&P skills sharp but work the day job and preserve your body. Doing an annual or two a month and you can make up for the loss of salary easily.
Good luck and take care of yourself. Nobody else is gonna do it for ya!
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u/I_Fix_Aeroplane 19h ago
You gotta do what's right for you. I hate nights but I don't want to work in another city and I'd take a massive pay cut to change companies and I'd also be on nights at the new company. So, I do what I must and try to make the best of it.
If your fiance is cool with you working somewhere else and being gone a lot you could try another city and commute. I dont know if thatll help though. It's good pay at topout, but you're basically trapped unless you take a 33% at least pay cut to start over.
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u/Alternative_Owl_9519 19h ago
You’ve been answering your own question your A&P is for life,so go make some marble….
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u/Aviator2025 18h ago
When did you take a PROPER vacation with your loved ones! Take time before burning out. Life is short.
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u/Dirtychugggriff 15h ago
Been in the industry for 25 yrs now in the UK. Some of my golden rules…
Exercise is crucial. It makes everything else easier. Run, gym, climb etc.
I don’t drink alcohol (been 7 years now). I can’t recommend this enough to help with sleep and keeping a clear head.
Have a good non engineering hobby.
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u/Ok_Veterinarian_2765 13h ago
If you’re at Lax , Amfa I worked with you. Best thing I did was transfer to LAS but I understand why you wanted to leave. I felt everything you did so I suggest leaving that environment. For me it was leaving LAX and that was 3 years ago and loved every bit of it. Now I don’t burn DATs just because and where I’m at now I have weekends off and we work on average to 1-2 am. Yeah nights suck but when you have 10% of the stress and a great work environment and everyone gets along great it makes a difference. If you can’t leave LA go with that move
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u/bidetatmaxsetting 12h ago
I mean have you been in the company long enough that you think youll make it to swings or days in the next few years? If yes then id wait it out or seek to move up in the world and get a higher position like supervisor or bid out to something else like sheet metal shop or engine shop.
I understand how it starts feeling like an aviation jiffy lube just doing mostly the same shit all the time. I stay cause I sure as hell dont want to start my seniority clock all over if I decide to come back to aviation if I leave. Plus pay and benefits are great.
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u/Creative-Dust5701 8h ago
with the market now - suck it up it will not get better anywhere else and you will be the last guy on seniority list
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u/Jumpy_Law3995 7h ago
As long as you racked up money and stable I would say switch for something comfortable especially since ur engaged now and probably will be going for kids soon
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u/garagehermit72 1d ago
I just took a small pay cut to get out of aviation. Zero regrets! I’m getting too old for the drama and stress.
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u/Barb3rian 1d ago
I understand that, but just wanted to hear some outside opinions to help me make a better decision.
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u/BobThompson77 23h ago
Serious? That's your input. OP is asking for experiences of contemporarys who have made a similar change from aviation. If you have nothing meaningful to chime in with, perhaps be quiet?
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u/GrouchyStomach7635 1d ago
Move if you’re now happy. I wouldn’t stay in a miserable place.