Many graduates have responsibility for:
Actions that directly effect hundreds of people
Access to company capital in the millions of pounds
Actions that could result in negative
PR on the front pages
I am sure that's true but pilots have to make decisions in "real time" - if things get a bit tough they cannot walk off and take a tea break or leave it till tomorrow!
I have every respect for those involved in all the professions. They have all sweated hard for their qualifications and ALL deserve to be well remunerated.
What I take issue with is the halluciantion that pilots are "well paid". Maybe some of them are but when you look at the terms and conditions that many pilots now have to work under I would argue that many are NOT "well paid".
They also have careers which can be terminated at the drop of a hat - you might fail your medical or fail to make the standards on the bi-annual checks which you are subject to for the whole of your career.
Many of my friends outside aviation seem to think that I earn circa £100,000 a year and just push a few buttons all day - I thoroughly enjoy my job as a pilot but would not recommend my children to enter the profession now!