Do you think most jobs/careers pay fairly for the skill requirements, level of importance, education required and danger factor considerations themselves?

I think that many office jobs (especially managerial) are overpaid whereas many manufacturing jobs are a bit underpaid.

I know for a fact that I am earning less than half of what the average person in my industry at my level of experience/skill earns, but times are tough and I need what I can get.

Short answer, no. Oh don’t get me started about the richest 1or 2% and the REST of the population!

Not really, they are mostly compensated based on the relative value to the revenue of the employer.

@YARNLADY I suppose that their management produces more revenue than all of the goods/services that the company provides? Until my boss pours the wax into the molds, makes the ceramic “negative”, pours the metal into the ceramic, breaks the part out, cuts it off, and does all of the machining and finishing in every plant, I am going to disagree.

Why are necessary service people, police, firemen, teachers, nurses, etc. not paid more and athletes and celebrities are paid obscene amounts?

@jerv There is a lot of mismanagement in the realm of commerce. When push comes to shove, the middle management could probably be eliminated.

If you were an owner and you needed help, would you pay your helpers more than you received from your own business? It doesn’t make sense when you think of it.

@jerv Yes I know where you are coming from. What really inspired me to write this question is the fact that my place is getting ready to close down so I am expecting a permanent layoff anytime now. I’m not sure I want to continue doing what I’ve been for the last 15 years (not including the 3 years of technical schooling I went through).

I generally work as an industrial maintenance person but looking at the requirements of many of these newer maintenance positions I see that even with all my experience and schooling I still do not come close to meeting the minimal requirements for these positions. Schooling is not cheap (money I do not have) and most of these maintenance positions want you to be on a Journeyman level or have at least an Associates degree equivilent on quite a few different trades like: pc, plc cnc parameter programming/ microsoft office,word,excell, office skills (go figure)/ electronics, electronic systems/ electrical systems (high & low voltage), ac,dc/ all types of mechanical/ machining/ hydraulic systems/ plumbing, hydronic systems/ pneumatic systems/ mig,tig, arc welding/ gas systems/ HVAC/ auto, deisel, forktruck repair. These are just roughly half of the requirements for an average position in my field that only pays between $35,000 and $45,000 today. I just do not think it is worth the effort and cost of extra schooling for what most of these positions pay.

A career change is definately in my future here. Next time the IBEW has a opening in my area I will apply for membership. Getting paid $60,000 to $90,000 just to do one trade sounds more appealing to me.

@zzc Yes those are the common careers that are usually mentioned. You do not hear about what I do for a living too often being mentioned in this category. An industrial maint tech is not a low-skilled jack-of-all-trades Mr. Roper that walks around with a toolpouch repairing toilets and electrical outlets. Not to mention all the times I’ve been hurt or nearly killed for such low pay. I still agree with some of the above you’ve mentioned however. Well I’m off to bed.

Wait, wait, what is the IBEW?

I think it depends on where you ply your trade.

I’m a creative director/advertising manager at my day job and an adjunct college instructor at night.

Most people I know who are creative or art directors make much more that me (by double) – but they work for large corporations (and many have been laid off a few times during their careers). I, on the other hand, work for a family owned farm. Sure it’s a multi-million dollar business, but my pay rate is in line with what they pay all upper management at the farm (and the job is very stable).

Meanwhile, my current teaching gig pays me more than double what my previous college paid me.

@cprevite As a machinist, I found myself competing with people who had twice the experience I do when I moved to Seattle; Boeing just laid off a bunch and I got here at a bad time. Fortunately, the shop I work at now is stable and actually growing, and right now that stability is worth the low pay. The last shop I worked at paid nearly double what I get now, but closed down not long after I got there.

@YARNLADY No, but I wouldn’t pay myself 1,000 times what they make either, not would I expect a performance bonus when the company is tanking.

@jerv: ”…right now that stability is worth the low pay.”

Exactly. I feel the same way right now.

@zzc IBEW is the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, a union.

Thanks! : )

No, because it’s also an issue of supply and demand. If you find your niche which is in high demand you get paid more. Of course predicting future niches might be considered a special skill in itself. So maybe it’s fair after all.