I was never paid the low pay scales as a Grade 2 instructor in Australia, nor the much publicised wages for regional airlines in the US. In 1995, it was US$27,900 for a Jetstream F/O in JFK at Trans States. Many of the carriers here have fairly good overtime rates.
I spoke with a seven year captain on the Comair Regional Jet and he made US$130,000 last year. I simply cannot believe that regional salaries are so low in Australia.
If I were a paying customer, Id be really concerned about the quality of job applicant that these carriers are attracting.