I can give a comparison from my previous job FO for 2 yrs with a Loco in the Midlands on a 737. £42k minus £330 - training bond for 3 yrs (after tax!), probably another £3k in sector pay, pension but couldn't afford to join it, no health cover till Capt or 3 yrs service. I took voluntary redundancy in Feb as I was very likely to have been affected and thought the company was on its way out anyway, which with very recent announcements it looks like it probably is.
I returned to my previous career which is Medical sales. Salary is £35k with potential to earn between £70 - 80k through bonuses (although not guaranteed is pretty achievable) fully expensed company car, private healthcare, Pension, phone, laptop, lunch allowance, Broadband....
My comparisons from the two are that it is more the lifestyle of a pilot through unsociable working patterns and lack of control on your life that affected me. I've certainly never been so tired, earlies to lates being a killer, very few weekends off, inability to book holiday when it suited us as a family etc....
In my current job I get every weekend off, I don't have to do funny shifts, I can book a week off next July if I want to, I know I am off for Christmas!! However as someone else mentions I can't walk away as easily at the end of the working day from my current job as you can when flying a plane and have to work on the laptop at home etc...
I like most paid £60k+ of my mine and my wife’s money to train to be a pilot and this is a big factor as I don't think the returns on that expenditure are worth it but hold my hands up that I did it of my own free will and no one forced me to do it. The problem is flying is seen as glamorous and it's not until you are in it that you realise it isn't! I have people comment to me in my current job that I must have taken a drop in working conditions and benefits to return to Sales, the sad fact is I get treated better now than when I flew, plus I have never had to pay a penny for any training. I feel very fortunate that I had something to return to especially in the current climate.
Hand on heart though I can't help but miss the flying at times but the way things are going I can't see anyway back to it for quite some time to come.