Congrats pilotchute - well done. As I and many others have said it takes real commitment to get out there & MAKE it happen instead of moaning on a rumour forum about a salary at McDonalds vs CX iCadet job, etc.
The harder you worked the "luckier" you got it seemed!
So, a lower salary than a CX slaved/bonded iCadet (or as a present C-Scale SO jetpilot123 quoted: "iron handcuffs") but with accommodation paid for. The net difference is the main point, including tax & cost of living. It's not what you make it's what you can save. (Most contract gigs are tax free).
And even if the money is slightly less after all things considered, pilotchute is earning REAL LOGGABLE HOURS in a control seat that are recognised by more than his own airline. Watch your aviation skills, knowledge, networking connections & salary begin a steady climb. With experience comes the opportunities. Within 2 years pilotchute will be more employable & with far, FAR greater career opportunities & options than the same guy "iron handcuffed" to the observer's seat not permitted by virtue of license & credentials to touch the controls on an ever depreciating salary basis. Ooohhh! But the aircraft the CX iCadet SO's not licensed to manipulate the controls of has more than 1 engine! That's worth a shirtless game of beach volleyball & reverse high 5.
As crwkuntroll eloquently put it when replying to a post from someone moaning about how to get experience or job & thus defending P2F guys:
The same way we all did when jobs were "hard" to find, get off your arse, your computer, and go and find one!
So again, well done pilotchute.