Christopher,
I agree that the flight instructor route is an excellent way to pay your dues. If you want an alternate way, I would advise against any job where you had to pay to sit in the right seat, but hey, it's a free country.
Check out some of the ab-initio programs. Mesa Airlines has a 2 year program run through a local college in Farmington, NM. I'm not sure of the cost today, but you can get student loans. You get quality instruction in Bonanzas, Barons, and the B-1900. The program is designed to get you into the right seat of the 1900. Most who finish the program get hired. Then you work for Mesa.
For more info check out their web-site.