How much do you think pilots starting out in their careers make? I was once waiting at a small airport in New York State when there was a flight delay. And the pilot of the plane was sitting right next to me. It was an American Eagle flight. The pilot and I got to talking, and he said that he made $20,000 a year. This was 10 years ago. That's not really what most people imagine life is like for a pilot. In truth though, that's what it's like for anything to do with commercial flying. For instance, consider aircraft maintenance jobs.
For instance, in general, people truly admire how immensely complex the machinery of an aircraft can be. Skilled car mechanics in particular, since they know a lot about engines and mechanics, can really appreciate the true beauty of the mechanics of aircraft. When they are bumping along in their career making perhaps $50,000 a year, they think longingly of how great it could be if they could just apply themselves to learning aircraft maintenance and then applying for a job in that field. They imagine they would make at least twice what they're making working on cars.
That's where they're completely wrong. Aircraft maintenance jobs are hell. No, really. It may be hard to imagine how, but bear with me.