Originally Posted by fosters

First let me say I think you made a good choice.

Second, while $20k (or slightly more) is what you'd make as a first year FO, I plan to make in the area of $38k hourly in my second year as an FO. Include per diem and I'm in the $44k range. Not that that means much - you still make more, and are home all the time vs me having 14-15 days off but being home only 8-10 nights per month, and probably have better job stability. I however don't have the Bobs looking over my shoulder , and still have thanksgiving, xmas, new years, birthdays, etc. off, and I've just come into my second year.

Third, you have this option. How many people can "just go get a job" making $60k/yr? Not many. Either you are older (say 26-30) with some work experience or you have some expensive degrees (or neither, you are just a smart mofo that networked into that job on your own). I can say hands DOWN if I could land a management job somewhere making $60k+ I would quit my job as a regional pilot IN A HEARTBEAT as would many others IMO .