Hi again chopperpilot,
Your right, it very much depends on the job. In Australia, if you work in the Northern Territory as a stock mustering pilot you will be paid by the hour. Somewhere between $50 and $70 an hr depending on experience. If you fly else where around OZ we have an award system that most companies adhere to (mainly because its cheap!!) and this takes into acount whether you fly over water, use an instrument rating, if you are a co-pilot, or if you fly for petroleum companies, or EMS, or if you have one or two engines. This can equate to anything between around $35000 and $70000 Australian. Obviously private owners or in house companies can pay more or less. Hope this helps (if your not in Australia, the way the dollar is, you would be better off trying for a job that pays US dollars) Cheers