I would honestly get the idea of fedex or ups out of your head as cargo.
they are more or less the Major cargo carriers and you'd be lucky to work for them in your lifetime.
with that said, it's all the same training.
as far as estimate goes, freight pilots can make in the 6 figures. but more or less you'll be below 70,000 for a good long while.
the general conception that pilots make bank is ridiculous. sure a 777 Captain makes 150k+ but how long did he make much less, and how little time is he actually gonna make that 150k+?
Don't put too much bank on this persons comments, I suspect he has no experience to support it. FedEx and UPS are always seen as the only carriers out there, but others do exist. Atlas/Polar is finishing a merger and new contract. Pilots there see six figure on a similar...and sometimes better par...than "majors." Atlas also has very serious profit sharing. Last year it was 12.5% of the individual's gross salary. Some of their pilots were in the high $100K, mid 200K range. Profit sharing ran from a low of around 5,000.00 to over 35,000.00. The equipment is nice and they have a lot of new birds coming and stable growth.
There are others out there too. They don't get the press that FedEx and UPS do, but you have to ask yourself if that's really important or if flying is important.
Also consider where you'd like to fly. Besides some incredible offshore opportunities, places like Atlas go just about everywhere in the world. Yes, some may be dumps, but a lot are really great. Add in a nice layover and time to explore and it gives you something to consider over transcon's or up and down the East or West coast.
With passenger carriers, you get SLF...self loading freight (pax). Cargo? One day a plane full of designer fashions. One day a load of Ferraris and Lambo's. Maybe a month of flying the Red Bull teams around. Or Formula One cars. Or parts for the new 787 Dreamliner. It can make for some wonderful experiences and great stories.
The most inportant thing is experience. Don't make the mistake of thinking you can buy ratings to get the job. Learn to FLY...Learn to teach...Bite the bullet and TEACH to build your hours. The experience you gain will be exponentially more important than going to a "mill" and getting into an RJ with 250 hours.
Here's why. The flying you do as an instructor teaches you how to work and communicate. RJ's are nice, don't get me wrong. But what you learn is how to program, not fly. Program the boxes, taxi out, takeoff and slap on the autopilot. Follow instructions, reprogram and land. No real flying.
Instructing actually teaches you how to fly, think critically, keep your head on a swivel, anticipate, plan for the worst and always have a successful outcome.
So work on your ratings. Get good experience and don't be taken by the siren song of an "easy" way to the top. Work hard and learn. Ask questions.
Done them both. While there are some aspects of passenger flying I miss, flying cargo has taken me around the world...and no, we don't always fly at night. I've seen places I'd have never seen flying passengers, met people from around the world and learned a tremendous amount. I'd venture 100% of the guys I've flown with would say the same.
Wouldn't trade it for the world.
Oh yeah...nope, no flight attendants...so what, you cook your own first class meal...ask any cargo pilot if they's rather have an F/A, or be riding Business Class on Thai or Cathay or other carriers, being well taken care of by thier F/A's who treat you with tremendous respect as a pilot.
Most of all...GOOD LUCK!!!!
