$45k would be realistic and worth the amount of responsibility.

People say "well, Doctors have to work unpaid or lowly paid internships before they make big money..." Most of us did that too - it was called flight instruction. And then there is the fact there is no big money any more...even after 10 years a regional FO is going to be capped at around $40/hr.

Starting at $45k then ramping up by a few grand every year would make it worth my while.