My thing as regards pay isn't what pilots get compared with other professions, but the inconcistency across the industry, as highlighted by roadtrip.
I don't have a problem with the self image my job creates, I don't care what anyone else thinks, i know its the best job out there and that's all that matters to me.
It's way better than battling the commuter chaos on the tube to get to the same crappy air conditioned windowless office to sit and stare at the same crappy computer sneaking a look at pprune when the boss isn't looking before finnishing work at 8pm battling the same crappy commuter chaos home and then going to bed and getting up tomorrow to do it all again. When its probably raining. You can keep your megabucks, its all about job satisfaction for me! I get a huge kick out of the adrenaline buzz a day at 'the office' gives me and the view out of the window is a damn sight better too. However a payrise would be nice!