That is a question that only you can answer.

Sometimes people accuse me of being negative here, but I am simply extremely realistic and pragmatic. I don't actually complain about the profession...I have outside employment options and income and the luxury of managing my airline career around quality of life with little regard for money if I so chose. Works great for me, but I acquired some non-aviation skills before I got into this.

Most newbies have the traditional understanding of the airline career...very high pay, 22 days off /month, long layovers in all the best hotels in all the best cities. Of course those days are long, long gone for all but a small handful of pilots...and the managers are doing their darndest to ensure that none of the next generation of airline pilots ever has any of those perks.

A prospective airline pilot needs to become highly informed and do some serious soul-searching. You may ask yourself "if it's really so bad, why do all these people do it?" Most of the people in the industry today got in when things were much, much better...for many it would be too much effort to retrain, or they may not be able to afford to start over. But there are many folks currently flying who would not have signed up for the program today, including me. It is still in a decline and who knows where it will end?

My recomendations...

Get a college degree, preferably a marketable skill. Get a real job, then private pilot license. Fly around for fun.

If you absolutely love flying and are comfortable with giving up your job and benefits, then start saving money and working on your ratings. Do some serious financial analysis and make a budget for your first 5 years in aviation (you now have a realistic understanding of how much money you need to support your lifestyle). When you have your CFI rating(s) and enough savings, quit your job and start building time.

Stay informed about the industry...things like the ATP requirement for FO's and economic downturns should be factored into your timeline.

Bottom line, be informed. Know the realities of adult finances, know the industry, and know yourself. The airline profession seems great to children, but not always so much once you have grownup needs and responsibilities.

Also, don't get married unless your SO is willing to move around with you and has a portable job skill which will pay the bills (ex nurse, bartender, etc). You cannot reliably support a spouse and family until you have several years at an airline...and even then regionals can shrink dramatically with little notice.