It can be done, it's also much easier to do at the higher tier regionals that pay their pilots "respectable" wages by year two. For the guys at the lower tier regionals, you can expect to be creeping into the 30k range in 2-3 years....and will top out there till the upgrade rolls around the corner.

$$ aren't everything though, atleast in terms of salary. I was making 62k/yr as a CA. 35k/yr as an FO on 3rd year TSA pay. My new job has me on first year salary of 55k/yr, but even though i got a $20k pay raise, the taxes and lack of any perdiem make the paychecks only slightly greater than my FO salary. So most of the increase is unrealized when it comes to finances. On the other hand, knowing my pay raises, performance bonuses, and cost of living increases, not to mention long term job security and being home daily...Things can help offset some of the differences.