Hey , Zapatas
Basically these guys and girls get paid these amounts because of the RESPONSIBILITY that they carry, mate. they are third in command (not fourth, as some of the "flight directors" would like to think) of an aircraft carrying 400 - odd people for over 12 hours half way around the world, unlike your captain pal who does a 40 minute sector at 4 o'clock in the afternoon followed by a GPS approach to a generally sea level airport speaking to an ATC that speaks english as his first language.. Many times a QF aircraft has been saved - YES - saved from disaster from one of these "overpaid"? s/o's reminding a tired, old captain (or F/O ) that he's about to F--K up. But if you were "in the know" you'd know that already wouldn't you ??? By the way, I am not a QF s/o but admire them greatly.
please don't drag them or their conditions down..perhaps we should all be earning $160 K a year?