Average 1st year pay for an MD is also failry pathetic.... typically around 40k while doing their residency. It also means very long shifts.... but it also means the Hospital provides them with a place to sleep and stay.

Average 1st year lawyer pay is harder to guage since it can vary widely from one region of the contry to another. The average works out to between 36k and 45k first year.

From there, their pay goes up exponentially each and every year. If they move or switch to another employer they do NOT go back to first year pay and work rules.

That being said. A good plumber will make that kind of money easilly. There are a number of good professions, and many many trades that will start at much higher pay than pilot pay.

The point being that if you think pilot pay is good then you are not very familiar with current payscales in other trades and professions