Is it possible to live the life I described as an airline pilot in Europe? My understanding is that most US FOs make more than European captains. The life I described requires making $300k/yr with 16% on top of that being dropped into your retirement account and having the time off to enjoy that income. This is becoming pretty standard for 12 yr+ captains in the US.

Sure I like flying but I got in to this career to get rich. Maybe not filthy rich to where I have no clue how much money I actually have and pay people to wipe my own ass but rich enough to be able to buy most things and not worry about. If this career cannot provide that why not do something else and fly as a hobby. You think a gynecologist likes looking at roughed up muff day in and day out? He does it because he gets rich from it.

$100-150k is sadly a decent living in most parts of the US because most companies have put so much pressure on wages. With that money you're getting by but still have to budget and stick pretty close to it if you have a family of four or more. It's possible to be content I suppose so I see your point. FOs making half that have to have a second income coming into the family. That puts ridiculous stress on the marriage if you're gone 18-20 days a month. Frankly it doesn't even come close to making the job worth it. It's for a kid in his early 20s with no family. That's a job not a career and if your job cannot become a career it's a dead end job.

Last point being that so many jobs are so volatile that eventually you will find yourself without one and if you weren't making enough money in the good times to be stashing away some serious rainy day money then you are going to be in a world of hurt. In 2016 making $100-150k with a family in most major domicile does not allow you to do that