With the current bonus and reserve time at junior bases you’ll probably make around 60K-70K year one. Year 2 would probably be $60K (NOT including per diem, performance bonuses, healthcare costs etc) if you worked your tail off. Hopefully, with the way things are now you’d upgrade at some point during year 3 and start making close to $80K if you continue to work a bunch. There are definitely ways to work the system if you live in base bid reserve and pick up flying on days off since that goes above your 75 hr monthly gaurantee automatically but then you’re obviously losing QOL if you’re also being called to fly on your reserve days. Picking up flying for straight pay is also frowned upon by many in the pilot group because we would like double pay to be the norm but you gotta do what you gotta do to live. I try not to judge. Realistically and simplest answer, if $80K is your “benchmark” I’d Try to work a budget for the next 2 years living on $50-60K because that’s probably your simplistic and realistic outlook