Cliff,
QOL will be far greater in your US airline, however, the high salaries are not starting in Year one. An ex work colleague started with Delta in Apr, and reckons he is bring in $4600 per month. Which is some $3600 per month less than the EK new joiner FO, and a lot less than he was making in the military. There is no arguing on who works harder for the money, but DELTA is clawing back the expense of hiring and training him. He says he should be cracking a bit over $8000 per month year two.
By Bond or pay, bean counters always get their pound of flesh. The $42000 and 5 years at EK is way over the top, but still they come.