I pursued a career in avionics... didn't pay well so I went into software.... Now I design software for banks and teach software design part time at the local university (U of Toronto)....

Plenty of free time and enough money to stay seriously with the hobby (compete) and raise a family (both very expensive).

Whatever you do, make sure you enjoy it first. Working is like getting paid to pursue another hobby to me, and has been all my career (>20 years).