Wings and Water
Money and status means more when you are older. Most of us here started out our flying careers as bright eyed idealists. I lived like a college kid on mac and cheese and with roommates until my early 30's. It was all fine and good until I got married and started having kids.
The problem is with employment. Times are hard and companies are having to squeeze profits from those who work for them. My advise is not to jump out of the frying pan and into the fire but to consider starting your own business.
At least if your current job stinks there will not be thousands fighting to get it. Aviation is incredibly competitive and demands most everything from its followers. It is more of am obsession than a real career. Over time most of the idealism goes away and financial security means ever so much more.
Skyhigh