45k is cr@p I was watching a TV doc the other night with a sofa salesman earning 65k.... Obviously his salary is linked to his performance and if he doesn't sell his earning fall but he doesn't have the initial investment that pilots have these days plus responsibility in his job is low. On the flip side the salesman would probably have to work more days a year, none of which would be at stupid o'clock. Therefore it's hard to compare but this job bears a lot of responsibility much like a doctor etc therefore you would expect pay grades in line with those professions. Think it was on BA thread that one guy worked out that from his flights per year and average loads the cost per head was just 40 pence... But that's BA
As an FO in FR take home after stupid Irish tax and greedy accountants is pretty much 3500 a month but you only work 10.5 months if you're lucky.