Honestly, it's not bad. I've been doing some research by talking to people outside of aviation, looking particularly at people with my college major: meteorology. You hear alot of people upset with their salary on this forum, especially the regional dudes. Through my research I actually found something sorta funny: I'd probably have greater earnings potential spending a career as a regional airline pilot than spending a career as a meteorologist or related scientist. I hear pilots on the forum saying how us young guys should give up flying and go into "normal jobs" where we'd "make more money". If I were to change paths and use my meteorology degree instead of my pilot qualifications, THAT would actually be the pay cut. Crazy, huh?