Right there, on your doorstep, there's a wonderful Blog that I've read virtually from it's inception.
"Cockpit Conversations" is the life and adventures of a Canadian Pilot , her carreer and trials and tribulations. Everything from fire-evacuation, to flying in pop (soda?) and crisps (chips?) to remote settlements. It'll keep you entertained for a long time (can't remember how far back the archive goes)
-and she's very approachable via PM for sincere enquiries!
WRT training and qualifying......add up the total cost of training, take account of,- that income has been TAXED....add the income lost while you're spending the aforesaid small fortune....work out how much, over ten years, divided into the number of hours you can legally fly, that it equates as an hourly rate.
If you're a real masochist, add 50% to the total before the division
(this would equate to 2.5% interest you lost on the money that your wages repay, over 10 years....OK so far?
Now look ay your headline NETT , after tax and expenses pay and remember that the money you "recoup" from training, comes out of TAXED PAY.
If that lot hasn't put you off, perhaps you really do want to be a Professional Pilot
The economics are harsh, If you survive long enough , you'll eventually repay that huge training-cost and start to make a very good income.
always assuming that you manage to keep employed through the regular downturns that are a feature of the industry!
I wish you the best of luck, if you pursue flying as a carreer.