saw a family member's check today

[QueenOphelia]

you make me want to vomit.

Why? Because I don't buy into the opinions that a plumber can build a sophisticated database or a rocketship to Venus?

Waaa waaa waaa....go vomit in your lunch pail while you turn the bolts on my new Mercedes. <sarcasm>

[cptacek]

cptacek--my comments are directed at the topic of this post, not necessarily to your personal opinions, which is potentially why you seem confused by my comments.

you quoted me. how else was I supposed to take it?

[disneysteve]

If jobs in our society were really based on the skill, training, education, and risk and so on in comparison for the wages they earned, the politicians would make a lot less, and teachers, police, firemen would make a whole lot more. Just my thought.

I don't know. Most politicians are attorneys, meaning they got an undergraduate degree and completed law school and passed the bar. That takes a good deal of education and knowledge.

Perhaps we need to rate jobs by value to society.

[cptacek]

It would help if many on this thread who do not have experience with manufacturing jobs, such as autoworkers, assemblylinespersons, meat processing plants, etc., knew what it is actually like to work in these environments, rather than quickly passing assumptions about how easy it appears to them.

pffft. I farm. And I used to roof in high school. I know how hard that is. It is back breaking work.

Doesn't change how much one should be paid for it. One should be paid as much as the person doing the hiring will pay and as little as the one doing the work will accept.

Perhaps we need to rate jobs by value to society.

I agree. I think the market should decide.

[xpirtdesign]

yeah Bill Gates is awesome he is one of a kind but damn thats pretty good for your family member good for him now make more money than him

[amarowsky]

Lol I love how this debate has mainly turned into the similar pay (and brought fourth support/anger/disagreement/agreement) of Nurses and UAW workers.

[amarowsky]

Personally I'm considered a blue collar worker. I have a job on the Railroad as a conductor. At my current rate I get 18.50 an hour, and after another 3 years I go to full pay, according to our current contract its about $26.00 and hour.

I am educated (and still enrolled), Aiming at finishing with my bachelors or masters. But I honestly have (as of now) no intention on using my degree for my career as far as obtaining a job. I like my job and I think that it will sufficiently pay for me to cover my expenses and build up my passive income to allow me an early retirement.

I love all the talk of Nurses because in my eye's people seem to think of nurses as the "skilled labor of degree holding medical workers". Personally I think they are compensated completely adequately for the work they do. I also am annoyed by nurses, not for any logical reason except for how incredibly "trendy" it is for people to pursue a career in nursing right now. Out of my friends who are going to school right now, I would suggest a go 50-70% are going for nursing. I know they are justified and necessary it just irritates me how everyone wants to go in for the same thing..... like sheep.

[cicy33]

I am sure that the person that has the $28 an hour did not start that way. the OP said he has been there 14 years. I am sure he has received raises along the way. Would love a job paying that. I have also in my life worked in factories and whether they are jobs that are mentally difficult or not they are tough on the body. I am of the opinion of other posters. If one can get the pay good for them!

[nRehman]

This online medium has made most of the money making opportunity as a skilled jobs which usually treated as an unskilled offline. There is no need of any advance form of academic or technical education to get high returns. Nursing job on the other hand covers both academic and technical education but getting more returns with unskilled background don't mean that it has reduced its value..