Money is over rated. I was a volunteer at a charity once when I was in between jobs, it was the best job I ever had!
Fact of the matter is, I was not born with a silver spoon in my mouth. My first job paid £3,30/hr, my previous job paid £7,00/hr and the average salary in my part of the world is only £17,000/yr.
I'll quite happyily take a FO position on a B737 for £40k/yr over some of the crap I've had to shovel in the past! It's all about perspective, when you see through the slavery that is western consumerism, materialism and keeping up with the neighbours; you might be able to enjoy your modest salary that you get paid for doing something you love!
....and no, I'm not an idealistic, naive, Marxist!
IMVHO, it's a global economy bringing with it a global labour force, couple that with automation. Salaries and wages are on the decline as such, whether you are a bottle washer or rocket scientist, and there is nothing we can do to stop it!
Just my 2 pence.