Hi Reggie,
I agree that when compared with other industries, most with much less responsibility than a helicopter mechanic, the pay is lower. It's not fair and I wish I could change it.
If you look into it, you'll find that there are a tremendous amount of positions available in the U.S. This can partly be attributed to the low pay in the aviation business, when compared to other lines of work. Regardless of the reasons, there are a lot of jobs.
When the comparitive cost of living betwen Europe and the U.S. is considered, U.S. wages for a mechanic offer a similar standard of living as those of our European counterparts.
I'm on the other side of the issue. I'd love to find work as helicopter mechanic in Europe, but the only jobs I've found don't make it worth my while to move. The pay hasn't been that impressive, and the cost of living is very high.
All in all, I think the industry is similar on both sides of the pond. If you want to make some big money, come visit me in Saudi. It sucks here, but the money's good.