SkyHigh,

Most people in other careers do not make $100K, much less more than that. The ones who do make $100K or more are working their butts off for it. When the national average income is less than $50K, there can't be too many people out there bringing home the bank.

We can mention careers all day long that make more than a regional CA, but since when are pilots supposed to make more than everybody else? Should nobody go into a career unless it pays $100K immediately?

I know a guy in his mid 20s who is upgrading to CA on a 727 for a 121 freight operator. He will make $80K his first year. Making $80K when only in your mid 20s is pretty good. $80K is more than what most people make.

If I wanted to be a police officer in LA, or wherever your cousin works, and make $100K, I would. If I wanted to be an electrician and make $95K, I would. But, I don't.

To go along with the electrician thing. I have uncles who own their own air conditioning company, and plumbing company. They all pull in about $50K per year. They might could make much more, but they would have to work tons of over-time, as mentioned by dittidano. As it is, they put in a normal 8 hour day, five days per week, plus taking call on weekends.

As far as you earning an average of $16K per year as a pilot. I find that hard to believe. Someone can get hired today by a regional, average about $30K (maybe slightly higher for most decent regionals) for a few years as an FO, upgrade to CA, and be making $60K, maybe slightly less or more depending on the airline. Even as an FO this person has made more than your $16K average. And his captain salary will continue to go up. As I said, I know an ASA CA who has been with company for 6 years and he is making about $80K, and technically he is only in his 2nd to 3rd year as a CA.