It has been a long haul over the last few years but ag is now in boom mode hopefully for a long while more. You can make allot of money very quickly but job security is always lingering in the back of your mind. Rain is what keeps an ag pilot in a job, as long as it keeps raining there will always be an job there for the taking however as soon as the rain stops so does the work.
The pilots making the big coin are contract pilots, once the work is finished they are on the look out for the next job usually in a different part of the country or even over seas. there are operators that have full time positions pilots. Although they may not make as much as a contract pilot this is offset by having secure job with regular work and being able to be home every night.
It is not a lifestyle for everyone often living out of suitcase chasing the work in rural areas. I have seen many people come and go over the years as they cant handle the lifestyle. All I can suggest is if you are interested check out AAAA web site or fieldair's web site, get in touch with some operators and have a go at loading and see if you like it or not before committing to a rating. As for earning money loading it can be very good especially if loading 2 or 3 turbines it is possible to earn close to or more than what the pilots earn plus meals and accommodation are usually supplied.
There has never been a better time to enter the industry than now.