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Folks Reveal 32 Of The Most Prestigious Jobs That Barely Pay People A Livable Wage
Interview With Expert
All professions are different, and each impacts the world in different ways. No matter how small or big, every job is valuable and should be treated as such. But the truth is that some of the most looked-up-to jobs are often undervalued.
There are so many reasons why this happens. As society keeps evolving, you might notice that some of the jobs you previously thought were prestigious just don’t pay people enough any more. To prove that point, we’ve compiled this list of high-end jobs with shockingly low salaries.
More info: Reddit
This post may include affiliate links.
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#2
Librarians. I couldn’t believe the position required a Masters degree for what they get paid.
#3
Paramedic.
LadyRougarou 1 year ago
Hubs is an EMT(makes $16 an hr) while going to school to become a paramedic and once he has completed the course he will be making $24 an hr. He loves his job but yeah paramedics don't make much unless you've been there for years and most top out at $30-$32 an hr.
When kids are young, they’re often forced into careers for the sake of money, prestige, or sometimes both. But certain renowned careers of old no longer pay enough. To understand this phenomenon, Bored Panda interviewed Kristin Hiemstra, the Founder and CEO of AlightSuccess, an empowerment coaching platform focused on career and personal development. Hiemstra is also an Adjunct Lecturer in management, innovation, and entrepreneurship at NCSU Poole College of Management, with expertise in creating organizational culture, employee engagement, and emotional intelligence.
Kristin told us, “unfortunately, several highly regarded professions in the US, particularly in the service sector, don't pay very well. This includes roles like ministers, nurses, police officers, architects, and untenured college professors. Even some lawyers face financial struggles despite the common perception that they all earn high salaries.”
#4
People who work with at risk populations like youth, the homeless, addicts, etc to work with them to help them turn their lives around. You're typically working for nonprofits who rely on government grants and donations by the community to get them funded. The people you are working with aren't paying for these services and thus, these agencies aren't bringing in income from these people. Welcome to the psychology field.
#5
EMTs (emergency medical technician)!!! Wtf? We call em in because we don't want to die. [They] make barely enough for a loaf of bread.
LadyRougarou 1 year ago
Can confirm as I said on the paramedic one. My hubs makes $16 an hr as an EMT and if he wasn't going to school for paramedic he would top out at $26 an hr for just being an EMT but it takes yrs to top out at that. Sure they have tons of overtime but who wants to work 7 days a wk 12-16 hr shifts every day?
Jeevesssssss 1 year ago
It's not like it's an easy $16 either. Very high stress at times and I bet a lot of it is hard not to bring home.
Load More Replies...
Halie smiley 1 year ago (edited)
My mom does that she makes $11.50 per hour and works 48 hour shifts is off for 4 days so you do the math she makes around 32,000 a year and as a single mom with a house note car not and other bills that’s not much and the cherry on top is our food stamps got cut off
#6
Most of the crew in film & tv production sets.
james stevenson 1 year ago
Most of money goes to the stars, the director, and the movie making budget
It’s heartbreaking to note that people working in some of the most demanding professions are often paid peanuts. Kristin stated, “nurses, for instance, are vital to our healthcare system and often work long, demanding hours. Despite this, their compensation doesn't always match the critical nature of their work. Similarly, police officers and firefighters put their lives on the line daily to protect and serve the community. Yet, their salaries often do not reflect their risks and responsibilities.”
On the other hand, some of the jobs you’d expect to compensate well may not live up to your expectations. “For example, I recently met a nurse who chose this career because it offered more stability and better pay than his previous job as a criminal lawyer. It's surprising to many, but even in the legal profession, not everyone makes a substantial income, especially those starting or working in certain areas of law,” Kristin added.
#7
Paraprofessional... If you think teachers have it rough, we're the ones who help those teachers manage the kids with behavior issues, Mal-adaptive personalities, autism, severe ADHD, learning disorders... A generation before, these kids would have been sent away to mental asylums and forgotten about if they couldn't adapt to "normal" schooling, but we're trying to give them an equal shot at an education.
Marno C. 1 year ago
So many school districts make 'secret cuts' in the budget by shaving the work hours and increasing the workload of paraprofessionals. This can be done especially in areas where the PPs are not protected by a strong union that can bargain contracts openly. The other risk factor is jurisdictions where it does not clearly define what kind of services a child with an IEP is entitled to receive, especially with guaranteed minimums and meaurables (e.g. has access to a PP for the whole school day, the PP has care of no more than X students, sees a speech therapist X times a week, etc.). The next frontier for kids with disabilities is going to have to be some major lawsuits that explicitly lay out what guarantees a child can expect to get a legally-defined 'education.'
#8
Any field relating to veterinary work or animal work in general….very low pay.
Another profession that’s always been highly valued yet doesn’t seem to pay a livable wage is architecture. Research shows that there has been a downshift in architects’ earnings over the years. In 1992, the hourly rates of male architects were almost 70% above the average for full-time male employees. However, this steady decline in salary has significantly impacted the industry.
Kristin mentioned that “while the profession is highly respected and requires significant education and training, many architects struggle financially, especially those just starting their careers. The same goes for college professors who haven't yet secured tenure; they often work long hours for relatively low pay while contributing significantly to the education and development of students.”
#10
Certified Nursing Assistant.
Marnie 1 year ago
I'm guessing they are still making strictly minimum wage or very close to it (in the US). My sister was a nursing assistant some 25 years ago. She was VERY dedicated and hard working, but made only minimum wage. A very difficult job in multiple ways. I could not do it myself.
#11
Any position in academic research.
#12
This may be niche but being a professional opera singer sounds very prestigious and cool but even singers at top houses are barely surviving financially, and big stars often still have to do things like teach master classes or teach lessons/coachings whatever .
Panda Kicki 1 year ago
I recently checked the paygrade of opera singers in Sweden as a fictional character in a book series was that and she had a lavish lifestyle, while her husband was a police. Their lifestyle with fast cars, champange, caviar, tailormade dresses etc must have had a hidden source of money..no way it was legal income 🤣
Even lifesaving jobs like emergency service providers are no exception to this pay disparity. We asked Kristin why such important jobs weren’t compensated as well. She said, “there are a few reasons why vital jobs like EMTs, firefighters, and teachers are sought after but don't pay a livable wage. First, it often comes down to education requirements. Even though they are crucial, jobs that don’t require a college degree tend to pay less.”
“Additionally, many people find emotional rewards in these roles, which can be seen as compensation. For example, everyone remembers their favorite teacher, and that emotional connection is incredibly valuable,” she added. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, on average, EMTs make 30% less than other working Americans, with most making less than $37,000 annually. This is truly shocking to consider!
#13
My sibling has a PhD in Audiology. And there's not much money in it at all. I barely have a high school degree and make 3x what they do in my tech sys admin role. .
#14
Pretty much anything at a museum, even famous ones.
Michael Largey 1 year ago
A former student of mine stopped being a nanny and finally got a job as a museum curator, her career dream. had to put up with a pay cut to do it.
#15
Architecture. Ridiculously competitive AND low pay.
Damira Balent 1 year ago
I work for an employer, and have my private practice on the side. That way I can earn tripple as much compared to working only for employer. I have never been on a holyday 😮💨
No matter how much we’d like to shake things up, there are certain reasons why previously prestigious jobs no longer hold the same weight. Kristin states that, “professions like teaching offer significant time off, like summers, which affects salary structures. Then there's the issue of revenue generation. Jobs that directly bring in money, like those in the private sector, usually pay more. Public service roles, while essential, don't generate direct revenue. And historically, professions dominated by women, such as teaching, have been undervalued and underpaid.
“So, while these jobs are respected and vital, the compensation doesn't always reflect that importance. Teaching, for instance, was highly sought after despite lower pay because of its societal value and benefits like summers off. But today, we're seeing a significant teacher shortage in the US, partly because of inadequate pay. This contrasts with other countries where teachers receive a living wage, and the profession is more stable,” she added.
#16
I get this all the time. Theoretical particle physicist for the Department of Energy Office of Science. I live, I survive, I have savings, I can cover emergencies but if I were private, I would almost be making double. However I will take the stability of this position with its amazing benefits and pension plan.
#17
Most science jobs like Biologist.
Marnie 1 year ago
I dated a guy about 15 years ago who had a PhD in chemistry, had published peer-reviewed scientific papers. He got a new job while we were dating making 72K a year. That wasn't terrible money by any means, but I was making almost 20K more than him with a BA computer science degree, and I was being underpaid as per the market and my years in the field.
#18
I thought Administrative Assistant sounded cool until I became one. Feels like I’m a one-man department for menial tasks.
It might seem like there’s no hope, or you have to settle for a poor salary if you want to get into any of these professions. That isn’t always the case. Like the many sides of a dice, each job offers many opportunities for you to do your best and to get the best out of it. It’s up to you to do your research and figure out how to make that possible. Do you have an example of any profession that would fit this list? Let us know in the comments.
#19
A lot of political jobs. I worked in politics for a bit for a state rep and the pay was criminally low. Everyone thought it was such a fancy exclusive job but nope. I was making like $24k a year.
#20
Im a Millwright for a medium-large sewer system and they pay is pretty good but as a critically essential service that gets literally no recognition, and trust me we go through some s**t to ensure you dont have to worry about flushing.
#21
Criminal prosecutors.
#22
News anchors and Journalists.
#23
Paralegals.
Thee8thsense 1 year ago
My husband had a law firm for 30 years and he paid his paralegals exceedingly well. Probably the reason a few of them were with him for over 20 years.
#24
Every "Account Executive" is a post-college grad making like 45k... Hopefully they can double it with a bonus.
#26
Mental health therapist.
Marcus Wolvaardt 1 year ago
Psychologists make a lot less that psychiatrist… who make really really good money
#27
Graphic Designer.
You can make bank if you are good at selling yourself in freelance to people who will pay, but they're <1% of any possible options. That's why you see so many pivoting to UX and development. Starting around me is sub $40k and doesn't scale well at all until 10yrs+, and even the, it still sucks for what gets asked of you. Definitely not the field for people/students with debt that want to start.
#28
NASA Astronaut. I think the average pay is like $100K a year which is crazy low for such a dangerous job.
#29
Business Operations, sounds like some kind of GM if you don't know full Finance hierarchies but really it's largely entry level AR, I made less per hour than I did at a restaurant, but benefits and building the resume for future jobs made it well worth it. How I got my start and if you word it right can really help to jump to the next step (typically AR has a low ceiling so have to pivot to staff Accounting or FP&A to keep moving up).
Also, any Non-Profit roles (I see CFO and Directors making pretty measly money in NP, but another good opportunity to build the resume) as well as lots in Education/Healthcare. Anything publicly funded/reliant on grants will not pay great and may artificially inflate titles to attract talent.
Marcus Wolvaardt 1 year ago
Non profits cfo and directors can be paid well depending on the company, situation and country
#30
Jeweler. Right now in AZ they make about $15-20 an hour, and that's after going to school and with previous professional experience.
#31
Assistant District Attorney.
I currently make $75k but just got bumped to $90k after 2 years.
Really any professional government job though...
I was thinking about applying for the CIA as an analyst and the application said the pay range was like $60k-$80k.
I was like nope, I'd love to apply but I can't afford a $10k-$20k pay cut when I'm barely scraping by on $75k.
#32
Sandwich artist.
sofacushionfort 1 year ago
But could you ever really put a price tag on such prestige and glamour?
What do you think ?
Admiralu 1 year ago
I'll add another one. Pilot and flight attendant. Starting pay is $16k, lower than poverty
Tessana Nemenski 1 year ago
I will totally upvote this 15901750937575 times if i could. A majority of US flight attendants have SNAP benefits etc, and even with doing "crashpads" (multiple people paying for an apartment) in some cities they still can't afford it (I read a story of Boston American Airlines Flight attendents living their cars)
Load More Replies... Marnie 1 year ago (edited)
I'll add: small business owner. Regardless of the type of business, there are people who think if you own your own business, it automatically means you're rich or close to it. But that's not true. Until maybe years or decades and with luck and hard work, some of course do end up making a lot of money, but it shouldn't be assumed. My son didn't even pay himself a salary at all for 1 1/2 years around COVID time just to keep the business afloat. Before that, he was paying himself less than minimum wage. This is a business that has existed for 15 years now. (He bought into it 9 years ago.) And they've done everything right. It's just a very niche market, and hard to expand beyond a certain point.
T. 1 year ago
I'll add another one: Literary translator. Can't survive on this alone, pay's around 2.50-3.50 an hour and most people do it out of love for the field.
LokisLilButterknife 1 year ago
I have my degree in translation and wanted to pursue a career in literary translation. God, I was so naive. I remember almost breaking into tears when my mentors in the field told me to not expect to make more than 15,000 GBP (~$19,100) my first year. So many translators have second jobs and often work as linguistic research, professors, professional editors, cultural liaisons, etc. It can take so many years to build up your client base to the point you're established and don't have to worry about living off ramen noodles.
Load More Replies... Wintermute 1 year ago
Funny that there's no mention of jobs in the financial industry. Y'know, the professionals that provide no service and produce no product. Surely such a frivolous, insular, self serving job sector can't generate much wealth, right? Not compared to all of these useful jobs mentioned above. It's not like the financial industry is the most profitable job sector in the world. That'd be just insane.
madbakes 1 year ago
Tellers and bankers are not well paid. They're typically making $15-$20 an hour, and bonuses are minimal.
Load More Replies... LokisLilButterknife 1 year ago
I'll add mine: Translator. We make jack s**t despite having to be expert communicators, fluent in one or more languages, experts in our chosen specializations (i.e.: medical translation, legal translation, etc.) skilled editors, proficient small business owners, cultural liaisons, etc. There is so much education you require as well, and crazy hoops to jump through. Yet, I could barely afford rent at one point. It's frustrating how we provide such an important service yet are often overlooked as a commodity. I am in translation research and project management now which is much more stable, however, it still pays poorly. I love what I do, but most people just see translation as a fancy commodity.
Steve Hall 1 year ago
The guy that said follow your dreams was trying to trick you into a low paying job. Even schools give very bad advice about career training.
Biofish23 1 year ago
Anything to do with Public Health. There was a surge of lip service during the pandemic, accompanied by a bit of federal money, but things quickly went back to ignored and underfunded business as usual. I was a microbiologist with over a decade of experience, working in a lab with all sorts of infectious materials and making about as much as an entry level cashier. So I quit. Now I'm a stay-at-home mom and graduate student, hoping an advanced degree will help me get into the biotech industry instead.
Nimitz 1 year ago
Making video games. I work for a multi-billion dollar company that makes AAA games. We start our people at $1 above minimum wage. If anyone's wondering why big budget games suck, this is why. Dev companies love to have free soda fridges and table tennis or arcade games in the break room, not to mention absolutely plaster public facing websites with pride flags and faux inclusiveness. But the homophobia is still real in the industry and most people can't afford a 1 bedroom apartment.
Dane 1 year ago
All of the comments simply point out that "minimum wage" should be something like $32/hr / $70k per year, had it kept pace with the economy. And no, that doesn't mean $10/gal gas, etc - it means all of the profits, efficiencies, etc in the current economy were not shared equally. Instead of everyone rising some, the top rose astronomically (including corporations), while the bottom barely rose at all.
Nimitz 1 year ago (edited)
I make video games. They start us at $1 above minimum wage and gatekeep the absolute s**t out of raises. Meanwhile, crunch time/mandatory overtime, mandatory time in office, mandatory social events. All the standard toxic things. Entirely male cis-het mostly white leadership teams supporting bro culture. And if you're not one of them (re-gay/trans/female) you can expect to be shut out of promotions and are constantly pressured to support the cis bros. Because ame studios know people like video games, the competition to get the job is pretty stiff. Meanwhile the companies PLASTER their websites with messages about being inclusive and queer friendly. Internally, however, not one single pride flag during pride month, or even a mention of the celebration. The industry is two-faced AF
Mr. Jones 1 year ago
People who work at affordable housing properties often make so little money, they live at another affordable housing property. I work as an auditor in the industry and I am often shocked by how little money the people in management make. And they work their asses off because those properties are monitored and audited by every agency that has a hand in the financing.
Kylie 1 year ago (edited)
Sometimes I really wonder what world the people at BP who decide on these titles live in. I wouldn't even call most of these jobs cited as "prestigious". I don't think they know what the word actually means. Necessary and valued (but not monetarily) yes, prestigious for the most part, no. I mean 'sandwich artist'? Really BP? I also have to wonder what they consider a "livable wage".
Kraneia The Dancing Dryad 1 year ago
Surprised no one said "Dallas Cowboys cheerleader". Most of them have second "normal" jobs, cos the cheerleading gig, even for a professional NFL team, doesn't pay worth a cráp.
Brian Droste 1 year ago
I am wondering what some of these jobs saying they are low pay. I retired back in Oct. Was only making a little more than $15 an hour. Wondering how many of these jobs was making more than that.
Admiralu 1 year ago
I'll add another one. Pilot and flight attendant. Starting pay is $16k, lower than poverty
Tessana Nemenski 1 year ago
I will totally upvote this 15901750937575 times if i could. A majority of US flight attendants have SNAP benefits etc, and even with doing "crashpads" (multiple people paying for an apartment) in some cities they still can't afford it (I read a story of Boston American Airlines Flight attendents living their cars)
Load More Replies... Marnie 1 year ago (edited)
I'll add: small business owner. Regardless of the type of business, there are people who think if you own your own business, it automatically means you're rich or close to it. But that's not true. Until maybe years or decades and with luck and hard work, some of course do end up making a lot of money, but it shouldn't be assumed. My son didn't even pay himself a salary at all for 1 1/2 years around COVID time just to keep the business afloat. Before that, he was paying himself less than minimum wage. This is a business that has existed for 15 years now. (He bought into it 9 years ago.) And they've done everything right. It's just a very niche market, and hard to expand beyond a certain point.
T. 1 year ago
I'll add another one: Literary translator. Can't survive on this alone, pay's around 2.50-3.50 an hour and most people do it out of love for the field.
LokisLilButterknife 1 year ago
I have my degree in translation and wanted to pursue a career in literary translation. God, I was so naive. I remember almost breaking into tears when my mentors in the field told me to not expect to make more than 15,000 GBP (~$19,100) my first year. So many translators have second jobs and often work as linguistic research, professors, professional editors, cultural liaisons, etc. It can take so many years to build up your client base to the point you're established and don't have to worry about living off ramen noodles.
Load More Replies... Wintermute 1 year ago
Funny that there's no mention of jobs in the financial industry. Y'know, the professionals that provide no service and produce no product. Surely such a frivolous, insular, self serving job sector can't generate much wealth, right? Not compared to all of these useful jobs mentioned above. It's not like the financial industry is the most profitable job sector in the world. That'd be just insane.
madbakes 1 year ago
Tellers and bankers are not well paid. They're typically making $15-$20 an hour, and bonuses are minimal.
Load More Replies... LokisLilButterknife 1 year ago
I'll add mine: Translator. We make jack s**t despite having to be expert communicators, fluent in one or more languages, experts in our chosen specializations (i.e.: medical translation, legal translation, etc.) skilled editors, proficient small business owners, cultural liaisons, etc. There is so much education you require as well, and crazy hoops to jump through. Yet, I could barely afford rent at one point. It's frustrating how we provide such an important service yet are often overlooked as a commodity. I am in translation research and project management now which is much more stable, however, it still pays poorly. I love what I do, but most people just see translation as a fancy commodity.
Steve Hall 1 year ago
The guy that said follow your dreams was trying to trick you into a low paying job. Even schools give very bad advice about career training.
Biofish23 1 year ago
Anything to do with Public Health. There was a surge of lip service during the pandemic, accompanied by a bit of federal money, but things quickly went back to ignored and underfunded business as usual. I was a microbiologist with over a decade of experience, working in a lab with all sorts of infectious materials and making about as much as an entry level cashier. So I quit. Now I'm a stay-at-home mom and graduate student, hoping an advanced degree will help me get into the biotech industry instead.
Nimitz 1 year ago
Making video games. I work for a multi-billion dollar company that makes AAA games. We start our people at $1 above minimum wage. If anyone's wondering why big budget games suck, this is why. Dev companies love to have free soda fridges and table tennis or arcade games in the break room, not to mention absolutely plaster public facing websites with pride flags and faux inclusiveness. But the homophobia is still real in the industry and most people can't afford a 1 bedroom apartment.
Dane 1 year ago
All of the comments simply point out that "minimum wage" should be something like $32/hr / $70k per year, had it kept pace with the economy. And no, that doesn't mean $10/gal gas, etc - it means all of the profits, efficiencies, etc in the current economy were not shared equally. Instead of everyone rising some, the top rose astronomically (including corporations), while the bottom barely rose at all.
Nimitz 1 year ago (edited)
I make video games. They start us at $1 above minimum wage and gatekeep the absolute s**t out of raises. Meanwhile, crunch time/mandatory overtime, mandatory time in office, mandatory social events. All the standard toxic things. Entirely male cis-het mostly white leadership teams supporting bro culture. And if you're not one of them (re-gay/trans/female) you can expect to be shut out of promotions and are constantly pressured to support the cis bros. Because ame studios know people like video games, the competition to get the job is pretty stiff. Meanwhile the companies PLASTER their websites with messages about being inclusive and queer friendly. Internally, however, not one single pride flag during pride month, or even a mention of the celebration. The industry is two-faced AF
Mr. Jones 1 year ago
People who work at affordable housing properties often make so little money, they live at another affordable housing property. I work as an auditor in the industry and I am often shocked by how little money the people in management make. And they work their asses off because those properties are monitored and audited by every agency that has a hand in the financing.
Kylie 1 year ago (edited)
Sometimes I really wonder what world the people at BP who decide on these titles live in. I wouldn't even call most of these jobs cited as "prestigious". I don't think they know what the word actually means. Necessary and valued (but not monetarily) yes, prestigious for the most part, no. I mean 'sandwich artist'? Really BP? I also have to wonder what they consider a "livable wage".
Kraneia The Dancing Dryad 1 year ago
Surprised no one said "Dallas Cowboys cheerleader". Most of them have second "normal" jobs, cos the cheerleading gig, even for a professional NFL team, doesn't pay worth a cráp.
Brian Droste 1 year ago
I am wondering what some of these jobs saying they are low pay. I retired back in Oct. Was only making a little more than $15 an hour. Wondering how many of these jobs was making more than that.
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