If you're single, or have a working spouse with no kids, its not THAT hard to get by on 23-25k. If you have children or your spouse doesn't work, it is very difficult. I didn't have any problem last year (was married the last 6 months) making ends meet, even with 600/mo in student loan payments every month, and wasn't starving myself or eating tons of ramen either...but I lived in the midwest which is quite a bit cheaper than South Florida. You definitely won't be living a life of luxury your probie year, but if you know how to properly budget (and have avoided large-scale debt) you can do just fine. What I don't understand is how married folks with young children survive their first year at CAL...I guess you take the first year knowing you'll more than make it up after that.

Are we underpaid on the whole at the regional level? YES. Some pilots and pilot groups, however, are fighting hard to raise the compensation toward where it needs to be. All pilots need to support those efforts to return pattern bargaining to the industry.