In Australia there are Flight Training organisations that cannot retain their instructors; they all move on into airlines after a relatively short time because there is a dire shortage of pilots here.
I personally have over 1000 hrs, after only starting flying in 2003, all privately funded by my primary job. If I were not on the wrong side of 50 yrs of age I might consider a career in aviation.
When you are young you have time and health on your side, don't turn 50 and look back wishing you pursued a career as a pilot with regret.
I know the starting wages, by comparison to my industry (Information Technology), are lower and at times depressing, and would go a long way towrds explaining why airlines have a poor retention rate, but if you truely are obsessed by flying, like me, hang in there.