Sleepy,
Bit of an unusual thread you have started, dont think its as easy as saying how good a £25k salary is? Too many variables. It's more an issue of the large financial investment it takes to become a career pilot in return for a much smaller salary. And the lack of job security etc.
I am, like you work in the oil and gas industry, and you and I know we receive a very good salary for the days we work, (offshore at least) I know it's more than some captains and SFOs that have posted on here. My investment was £4000 of my own money with not too much studying to get where I am now, a well paid, secure enough job where I work 20 weeks a year.
The issue of low salaries on here I'm gathering relates to spending some where between 40k to 90k to complete training without a job guarantee and with low salaries at the end
You wouldn't be working in Azers by any chance?