I understand where everyone is coming from here, life is full of highs and lows, but at the end of the day, follow your heart. If flying is your passion, go for it! You'll adapt to the salaries and lifestyles if your career requirements are fulfilled. I can't imagine what can be more satisfying than a flying job!
I've done 9 yrs in the RAF on radars, followed by as many years in IT, gained my PPL and then tried to follow my life time dream of becoming a professional pilot, unfortunately this week that just passed me by, having had success in 13 of the 14 ATPL exams and failing the last one by a mere 4%! I'm looking at being a PPL lifer unless anyone has any great ideas for me?
Aviation - it's a passion, not a job, fly the dream and enjoy it! I'd happily swap places with deathcruzer or anyone and fly the planes while you fly my office desk at 0ft. Now, go fly.