From a few of my Air China and Air China Cargo student I believe they start out as an Observer( basically jumpseat in Airbus and Boeing products) for a year and then eventually get in as a FO. Their pay to start out suck maybe equivalent to 25K US and they max out around 50K-60K as international Capt. One thing you have to realize is there culture has little focus on getting wealthy. There idea of a good life is way different than ours. Many will never own a house, apartment, condo or a car and this is normal. Not to stereotype but many just want enough money to buy various consumer goods, get a place that there parents or wife's parents can move into and retire from whatever job they have.