It shouldn't be...Name another profession where you invest so much money to get a "blue collar job"? It's exactly that type of comparison that makes this job so unappreciated. Any 4 year degree job pays more than a regional, but instead comparing ourself to lowest paying jobs in the country maybe we should stop for a second and think how much money and time it took to get this "dream job" and we still end up making 20K a year.
Some of you mentioned that your wifes make enough money to support the family.... I think that's pathetic! While there is nothing wrong with woman being the bread winner at home. What's pathetic is the fact we all got used to the idea that a nurse or bus driver makes more than pilots do. Pilots used to be the guys that had a wife at home and 3 kids in college without student loans. Nowadays half the pilots in regionals live with their parents. Why is that OK? Anytime some mentions the bad pay and qol they get blasted with negative comments like" we don't need you here" or "stop crying" Management could not give two @@@ about you and yet most of you here would rather criticize your fellow pilot.

SAAB, I couldn't agree with you more. I don't know you personally but from the previous post here and on the crack pipe I feel that you and I have a lot in common and share the same values. I am just about your age and started to get a little envious of my friends being home for the holidays and weekends. Seeing my long time girlfriend every day would also be a great bonus. But I don't ming working holidays, weekends, and being gone 4 days a week if I had something to show for it... I work my @@s off and then come home to find out that maybe on the next rip I should pack food because my savings account balance is getting low. Most my friends bought hoses and until recently I had to rent a crappy studio just to keep me going. I don't want my kids to be poor and without a father half the time. That's why I made a decision to quit and so far I have been more than happy with that move.
While I am not saying that this career is without a future, I will say that the future of the career has to do more with luck than skill. I have friend that's a minority and he got hired at CAL at the age of 24 and 1500 total time. At the same time I know plenty of people that have more 6000 tt and 3000 turbine PIC but not even a single interview. In addition todays best airline maybe tomorrows nightmare. You could be a 20 year captain making 200K a year but tomorrow you maybe just a new hire making less than 30k. No other job has such messed up pay.

Oh and SABB: We don't your kind around here!! Go get a job at a bar because that the only alternative that a retired pilot has...