If I may correct you, Button Push, Flybe First Officers start at £28K pa, which is roughly $30K, with a training bond but not one you have to pay back unless you leave in very short order because it reduces year by year. Flybe are one of the lowest paying 'large airlines'. Ryanai are a good example. Yes, an FO starts on £30K or so but, as their Head of Training points out, within 5 years you are likely to be a Captain on £100K plus, often in your mid 20s.
In Europe FOs hold type ratings, so there is no need to wait until your ATPl is 'unfrozen' to do this, you would get type rated on first hire.
I grant you that the US market is lively at the moment and that there are some great first hire deals to be had.