Salaries should be considered relative to what was being paid in the past.In the 80's the union was strong,seniority prevailed,job security was good,a career paths existed,airlines were relatively viable and stable.My salary was $90K as a turbo-prop checkie.This equates to a $175K today,so therein lies the salary comparison of what the job used to be and what it is today,There is no comparison,and that's without mentioning other T&C's.