I like to fly just like a lot of us here. But there is no way people starting out today as a professional pilot will ever make as much they would in non flying jobs. If you are just starting out with PPL, you are going to be spending at least $25,000 to $30,000 by the time you get your INSTRUMENT, COMM SEL, MEL, CFI, CFII, CFI MEL. Then you would have to pay dues as a CFI for at least a year before you have enough hours to apply to regionals where you would make around $25,000 a year. This is assuming regional hiring will remain as brisk as it has been in 2007. In 2009 and beyond chances are you would be competing against a lot of guys with prior Part 121 experience who were furloughed from their airline jobs. My regional is even getting applications from furloughed major airline pilots with thousands of hours in jets. My regional is full of 15 year plus seniority CAs who never made it to the majors.

Now if you went and obtained an MBA or a law degree, you would start out at $80,000 a year to start. How do I know this? I used to date a girl who got her law degree and her first job with a law firm paid $87,000 to start with full benefits like paid 2 week paid vacations and full health care coverage.

I am not saying this to discourage you but if you have a family, you need to think about them first. Ask yourself, is the risk worth taking?