Here's a reality check for you, S & R:
I left an unskilled job working with my brother-in-law that paid $54k back in the late '80s, to go to the job I always wanted that paid $20k.
It's now 14 years later. I'm now in the second highest pay bracket in the company I work for.
I have no possibility of career progression (at the moment) as my company neither supports nor nurtures it. Therefore in 12 months I will earn the maximum wage that I ever can without moving into Check/Training. At 40 something my career opportunities are severely limited, as regardless of anti-age discrimination laws it is alive and well in Australia. My brother-in-law still has several layers of progression available to him.
The catfish of this industry are continually giving in to companies and accepting lower wages in exchange for an occupation with ever increasing demands for safety and accountability. Doesn't make sense to me to accept less for more?????
I have the responsibility of many lives on my plate every day, yet my brother-in-law doesn't.
I have the opportunity to lose my job and my family's livelihood a minimum of 5 times per year with Cyclics and other checks. My brother-in-law doesn't.
I get to work lousy hours and am regularly fatigued. I get one weekend off every 28 day cycle to be with my family. So it can be 6 weeks between weekends off. My brother-in-law works the same shift every day and has weekends off with his family.
My brother-in-law is still in the same job he was 14 years ago, yet he earns at least $5k more P.A. than me and has an excellent Superannuation scheme......
My brother-in-law dislikes his job. I still like mine, but the enthusiasm is wearing thin. Passion for the job doesn't pay the bills or appease your family which demands (and deserves) more of your time......You work to live - not live to work. He walks away from his job at the end of the day. I have to be in the books a lot of the time (my own time). He's no worse off disliking his job.
The key is what you want to have at the end of your career for yourself and your family (lifestyle)? Unless you get into a major airline that pays big bucks, or are independently wealthy, then you would be better off in the higher paying non-aviation job when the time comes to retirement.
Trades require less outlay on the individual's behalf and have the potential to reward you far more financially than a job in anything apart from a major airline. Just one reason why flying training is dying in the arse. The rewards are just not there.
Good luck S & R. It's not a bad job for a while. But when it comes down to it, it's just another job.
You just have to work out what your priorities in life are.............