Here's the problem with that sport. If you really are an RJ F/O, then you've probably invested north of $50,000 USD to obtain at least a Commercial / Inst / ME ticket and a four year degree. And that would be doing it about as cheaply as possible. Of course, college isn't essential but you seem fairly confident in your airline acumen so I'm going to guess that you matriculated and got your college on. That places you in a group who enjoys a rate of unemployment at just over 4 percent. Not too bad when compared to the rest of the US. Therefore, you ought to have a job.

If you went to EmbyDoodle or some other fine aviatory institution for your degree and tickets, then you've probably spent almost twice that. How many people in the US have both a four year degree and an ATP (or COMM/INST/ME)?

I'll give you a hint, according to the FAA there are 125,738 commercial pilots and 144,600 ATP's in the US. So, just over 270,000 of us, give or take a peck.

Pilot certification in the United States - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

For comparison, there were over 661,400 licensed MDs in the US in 2008.

Now, I don't don't claim to have near the education or skills as an MD. But aside from the guys who rip tails off Bonanza's, how many doctors could fire up your RJ and successfully go somewhere in really crappy weather? Sure its a silly comparison, but apt. We've got a pricey skill set and deserve to be well compensated for it.

So right off the bat, you've got edjumacation that most can only dream about. In that regard, it seems silly to compare your financial position with Joe Six-Pack who doesn't have your flight training or education. I'm not a snob, but I'm not going to compare my skill set with the dude behind the counter at Advance Auto or a cashier at WalMart.

I don't care what the median income is, I only care what mine is. I won't sell myself short just because the HS grad digging a ditch is poorly compensated or because of high unemployment. I bet your lawyer and doctor don't compare their compensation to the median US household. That would be stupid and shortsighted. Certainly you're neither. Right?

According to the US census, the median household income was $51,914 between 2006 and 2010.
USA QuickFacts from the US Census Bureau

Please forgive my ignorance about the rest of the industry, but exactly where can an RJ F/O make more than that...without working overtime? You're a lucky dude! Congrats! Most commuter F/O's don't come close to that. Some might even wonder if you really are an RJ F/O with a salary like that. But I doubt that any of us will worry about you. So, don't worry about us.

This thing will pass, or it won't and we'll just have to deal with the outcome. If you're lucky, we'll make some inroads into the abysmal scope situation and in doing so improve your chances of flying a Boeing or Airbus one day. Along the way, we'll try and shove the pendulum in the other direction and put some pay, dignity and benefits back into this woefully underpaid job.