Hmm. When I left my [very very cruddy] regional I pulled down $90k my last year. That's not millionaire money, but it's pretty good scratch, and more than I'll make at a legacy for the next 3-5 years. I hasten to add that I was at said [very very cruddy] regional WAY too long and except for pay, the lifestyle was abysmal.

I think the "point" is that regional pay scales aren't uniformly as bad as most major pilots think. More importantly, however, is that I don't think many pilots appreciate just how little the average working stiff (non-pilot) really earns and how hard they have to work to get it. Offhand, I think I remember being told that the average DUAL income family only makes around $60k/yr.

I'm all for more pay, particularly when the airlines are raking in money (ahem). But lets be realistic about the response we'll get when asking the general flying public to feel sorry about our "poor pay".