First of all... pay is "unimportant"? Are you kidding? That is what will put food on the table for you and your family. It is very important.
Second, you've "done quite a bit of research"? If so, you'd have found the answers to every question you've asked. If the answers are not on this forums, go to Baseops.net Flight Planning and Aviation Weather, and look in their forum (see the link at the top of their website). And if you do go there,... use their Search Function, and don't go in and say "hey, where do I find this info?".
There are plenty of other online resources that I don't think you've explored.
Do your homework.