A cadet by definition surely is 0 hours... So imagine being 20 years old and have completed your training, first job (and maybe your entire career) is with CX. Yes the salary isn't great at starting (actually whom I kidding, its very good! you're a cadet!) but blow my nuts I earned less than a store worker in my first job, and it wasn't flying 777's etc. If I could wind back to when I finished my training almost 30 years ago I should have applied.
If you're a cadet and thinking of applying, do it! There are almost no airlines in the world that will hire someone with 0 hours. You will learn so much and in 5-6 years when you're a first officer then that's great, and you can now start putting those real hours in the logbook and earning good cash.
Most cadets live at home with their parents anyway, so you'll be saving everything. And $500k isn't anything to turn your nose up at.