Avery,
While flight instructing, you will most certainly take a pay cut. Take a look here for information on that: https://airlinepilot.life/t/how-much-does-a-flight-instructor-earn/8061
As a pilot, you might initially take a pay cut, but you will eventually far exceed anything that you would make as a truck driver. Read here for more on that: https://airlinepilot.life/t/what-do-pilots-really-earn/16495/2
Chris