This thread just keeps on giving.
Comparing one job to another is always problematic. Airlines in Australia will never pay more because VET loans mean supply far exceeds demand. Fools and their $120K... Well, taxpayers $120k.
Other industries don't have this issue. I know quite a few pilots who stopped flying during covid and are not going back. Mostly because they found they could do a $1000 TAFE certificate and get a job paying the same money. They can drop the kids at school, pick up a coffee, work from home with full flexibility and only go to the office two days a week. A lot of defence guys have gone back into staff officer jobs with similar conditions.