Funny thing....
All my career (30+ years), I have chased the paycheck. Multiple carriers on multiple continents. At the end of the game, I am back in the USA. Flying for an airline that most of you would turn your nose up at (Kalitta Air). Am a B-744 TRE and also do line training. 2008 was a pretty good year, all in all. $266K, plus 401k, plus medical insurance. 21 days holiday. 14 days sick leave.
Spent most of my career looking for "the job". Stumbled on this one by accident and can't see leaving any time soon...