Originally Posted by
05Duramax
The only reason we don't get paid more is so many people have well to do parents or are so enamoured with the love of flying or the adventure that they will work poverty wages to do it.
That's true for other professions as well, people attracted to either the allure, the perceived prestige, or the potential for long-term economic rewards (minor league baseball, firefighters, etc). In the case of airline aviation it's all three.
To get the best pay for your skill, time, and effort you have to something boring or uncomfortable. Less competition.