Originally Posted by dera

I passed my commercial checkride less than a year ago, my first job paid $34k/year + tips (150-200/week), my second job with a bit of overtime paid $45k/year for the first 6 months, and now I'm at 1200 hours and will be on track to hit $85k, $100k if I want to work every bit of overtime available. Cumulative, my first year pilot income will be around $60k/year. I don't think it's a "nonexistent" pay at all. Next year base pay will be just under $95k with no overtime. Currently I fly 3 days a week, live home, have all weekends off and home every night.

My flight training, all in, including hour building, was just over $45k until I got hired at my first job.
So far, my ROI has been incredible.