I have friends who are commercial pilots who all took different routes. One went to USAFA, did his 5-6 years in lovely places like Tulsa and Enid, and left to join United. Been there 25+ years.
Another went to North Dakota and joined American Airlines, but in order to get enough seniority (was always bumped by military trained people) he and his wife lived overseas for 7 or 8 years, I think in Italy and Greece doing short commuter flights. He’s now (and has been for many years) a captain. Absolutely the career he wanted.
Another friend did a hodgepodge of things; he had a non-aviation degree from a UW so I think just took pilot training separately. He never got a job he wanted (permanent pilot) but often had jobs like flying for UPS at night.
A doctor I know always wanted to fly, so got a commercial license in his 40’s or 50’s and he flew private flights for a charter service, while still being a doctor. He liked that a lot, except he had to shave his beard.
Lots of ways to do it. Some better than others.