Wangus.
Apologies for the thread creep.
Truckflyer
"Facts is facts". Yes, I'm a real Ryanair pilot. €35k for year 1 is after deductions and reflects (a) unpaid line training (b) low paid line training (c) pre-500hr low pay and (d) random events like volcanoes and base transfers. It is also a net figure, with no tax paid because all earnings are the repayment of expenses including the type rating.
Second year is a nasty surprise. Although you earn at a higher rate, you now pay tax and your expenses are actually very low if you are honest. Those expenses you do have: half your mobile phone bill, a new shirt every few months etc, are not that significant. Expenses only really make a difference to your income if (a) you lie to the taxman or (b) you go out of base for a week.
Nobody said you earn bad money. Quite the reverse. For a lad in his twenties with no commitments, who doesn't care about his pension or loss of licence insurance etc, it is fine and will allow him to buy his Porsche on hire purchase. But it is not a lot for a married man with kids. That's why Ryanair prefer employing the younger pilots...