I know what you're saying, but let's put that in perspective. Many of us in the industry have become so spoiled and entitled as we compare ourselves to the airline pay of the past or the pay in some other careers currently. Let's look at the statistics.

According to the US Census Bureau, the MEDIAN annual salary in the United States is $53,482!! That means a full 50% of people in this country make less than that!!
(See: UNITED STATES QuickFacts from the US Census Bureau)

Check out the breakdown on this website. A full 75% of people in the US make LESS than $100,000 per year. Only 11.3% make more than $150,000 per year. And only 5.6% make $200,000 or more.

(See: ? Household income in the U.S. - percentage distribution 2014 | Statistic)

So yeah, even making $75 to $100K would easily qualify you for "upper middle class" income, but certainly from $100K to $200K is "upper middle class" on a per capita basis.

But wait, you say. I'm different! I have a college education! I'm not just any unskilled worker! More of us are men than women in this career field. And according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the MEDIAN weekly salary for a man in 2014 with a bachelor's degree was $1,385 or about $72,020 per year. Even with an advanced degree, the MEDIAN salary for a man in 2014 was $1,630 per week or $84,760 per year.
(See: http://www.bls.gov/opub/ted/2015/med...ty-in-2014.htm)

Yes, I think we are underpaid and we deserve more. But I also appreciate what I already have and definitely feel like I am "upper middle class" even when I am making more than $100K but under $200K per year. I personally know many well-educated professionals like nurses and teachers who will never make what I can make as a pilot.