5 year "captains" at the Golden Gate Transit Authority gross $100,000 a year - driving a GM bus. Some do have a longish day, 9-11 hours - but with several hours off in the middle of the day (go to the gym, lunch & what not). They also have a real retirement.

I did the regional thing in the early-mid 80's. The pay then, corrected for inflation was considerably higher than it is now. (The mins to get in were higher too, in fact FO mins then were higher than captains mins now) So, just because there's a "shortage" now tell me how is it a good time to get in? BTW: I'm one of the people on the Skyhigh's "sidelines", trying to get back in but without starving, or being insulted or treated like trash at interviews, or generally ignored because of experience. I honestly believe that a senior captain at a regional isn't a bad thing at all, provided its where you want to live, and maybe don't have children to raise. But I think only 20-25% of people will make it out of the regionals onto a main-line/legacy gig. High risks indeed.