Captain Spam Can, you might want to re-check your European salary figures! It looks like you forgot to subtract tax...
Ballpark in Italy: captain 8000 euro, SFO 5000 euro fluctuating up and down depending on sectors flown.
18 months to command? Technically it is possible I guess, but I absolutely would not count on it. I just spoke to an SFO who is finishing his command selection process. He has no idea how long it will take for him to reach the left seat. Could be months, could be a year, and beyond that you need a crystal ball.