The average salary in this country is $46,000/yr. The average first year pay, factoring in training on a base salary with no per diem or overtime, is $38,000. It’s going to suck year one but hopefully you’ve planned ahead and accordingly. If you paid your own way through flight school either through the military or a crappy, hard working job- you've got the muscle. If you did this on your own, the first year won’t be hard; you understand how to budget and save/spend on what matters. It will be a breeze for you folks. Second year and everything after that is the big reward.