I'm a Navy graphic artist, formal title is Illustrator-Draftsman Chief. My avatar is the symbol for specialty, a compass and triangle. I have 18 years of graphics experience, a combination of traditional mediums and digital. Started with Maya Sept 04. Use it to integrate props into 2D photoshop composition. Other than that I'm a hobbiest with. Won't discuss my salary either, but you can find military paycharts online. Plan to retire in Mar 07 and hopefully get to use whatever 3D skills I've acquired by then, probably in teaching capacity.

Good luck on your quest. I wish that I'd had the same access to software that you are enjoying, but at that time computers were four times as expensive and you had to built them yourself. When I was your age....