It's money that I get when I work. The more I work, the more per diem I get. That sounds like income to me.

If you get more than you spend on ME&I, then it goes into the same pot that pays the bills.

That being said, almost 10 year CRJ CA (with per diem and bonus, not LCA) 112K last year, 108k the 2014. Approx 5k in per diem both years.

I have to admit, though: 100k doesn't do as much these days as it would have 10 years ago.