I'm an FO that is about to upgrade. All FO's upgrade at their one year recurrent unless they've been found to be a pain in the arse on the line (multiple CA complaints) or unable to fly.
I'm not sure how the $1400 a check worked out to 60K in the above post but my W-2 shows $1400 times 26 paydays a year to be $36,400 per year net. (I assume the guy above quoting 47K is talking gross). Plus a touch for the very infrequent overtime I fly (1.5 time daily rate or $280 or so a day as an FO). Also there is a 5K upgrade bonus that most people mentally tack on to first year pay bringing up the salary to 35K.
Also, as to my tax status; I'm a US citizen, born and raised. I wear a cowboy hat and love G.W. Bush.
Okay, the last sentence was a joke.