I have been watching this thread since it started, trying to work out how or whether I should reply. I am a LAME (avionics) and I have worked in Military,GA, Airlines and Offshore. Getting the Licence isn't easy and it is expensive (you pay for the exam pass or fail). Under the new Part145 it is now a money making exercise for the few approved schools. Except in the RAAF, maintenance is seen as a wasted expense ( they don't fly the hours). Accountants (and some owners) can't understand how it can fly in, cost all this money and fly out afterwards. I have been asked (more than once) "Really - What did you do".
I have had the Engineering Manager of a large regional airline (guess) say to me "If I could get rid of avionics altogether - I would".
So unless you really have a passion for aviation, it is a long road (4yrs) with poor pay until you are licenced. Then you get to be responsible for multiple lives (one of the few jobs you can go to jail for making a mistake), work under some appalling conditions (heat, cold, noise, dust, oil, grease, solvents, outside,inside etc), work on aircraft that will be older than you are, trouble getting spares/test equip (they cost money) all to be told that the owner or company isn't going to pay for your overtime.
But Qantas don't mind. They are closing 747 maintenance, they didn't train anyone on the A380 so now they can justify sending maintenance overseas.
I now work in the Pilbara (FIFO) and when I am there I am one of the lower paid members of the community. And management are telling us that we earn too much. (and they have just pulled our allowances).
Unfortunately for me I enjoy what I do, otherwise I would be one of the "Rig Pigs" that we fly out to the platforms. (seen these guys earn 1500 a day)