Hi!
I've had a LOT of people very interested in my profession, and wanting to hear all about it. It probably IS less of a big deal now, because there are TONS more pilots now than there used to be, and people are flying more and more as PAX, so it seems more routine.
Pay goes up and down as everything does. In the US, about 50% of the General Practioners (MDs) want to quit within the next 5 years, because the pay is not worth the aggravation.
I was a teacher, with a Master's Degree (University 4-year, plus two more), and I started at $28,000/year. MAX pay after God knows how many years, and a Doctorate degree plus TONS of additional classes and training, was about $65,000.
I just saw and ad for an A-320 Captain and FO. The Captain's pay is $12-$15K (USD)/month, plus all expenses paid. Sure, some pilots don't get paid that much, but they CAN get paid a lot.
If you think the job is crap today, then quit, and those of us that want to do it will have a better chance at a better job!
cliff
KGRB