Don't know where you're instructing, but I wish I could have instructed for 30k/year.

Using your logic: Spend five more years at a "good" regional than you would at Lakes before hopping to an LCC/major due to the slow upgrade, and you lose 5 years of salary at that next "dream carrier."

Say that "dream job" is AirTran...

5 years X 128520= $642600. That's over 20 years of flight instructing at 30k/yr. Plus, 5 years extra seniority can be what keeps you in a job when things turn downward.

Our pay is terrible, I agree. Not trying to completely bust on you here, but I do get tired of the short-sighted "don't go to Lakes, you'll make $16/hour" argument. Lakes isn't for everyone. Heck, it isn't for most people. But that doesn't necessarily make it a stupid decision for someone else.