The basic idea behind all of the frustration in this list is simple. Many internet users believe that some folks get unfairly rewarded for the amount of value that they bring to their customers, company, or society as a whole. Or, to put it more bluntly, they see some professions as being inherently more valuable than others.

In an ideal world, the professions that are most useful to society would be paid the most. But we don’t live in an ideal world. People get paid what they do based on the market conditions, the demand for their work, their reputation, and sometimes the perceived—not actual—value of their services.

Sure, social media influencers might not cure diseases or educate future generations, but they provide entertainment for thousands, sometimes even millions of people around the globe. There’s a huge demand for their services, like it or not. And it's not like their jobs are stress-free either. Often, influencers have to be incredibly disciplined and emotionally resilient to do what they do. Their career path isn't for everyone.

“Generally, we are paid based on the value we give back to humanity. Someone who grows vegetables might earn $1,000 a month, while a lawyer might earn $1,000 an hour,” personal finance expert Orford told Bored Panda via email.

“The person who grows vegetables provides sustenance, but the lawyer's fee allows them to argue on behalf of their client and potentially keep them out of jail. Which one provides more value? And that's what I mean by value.”

According to the expert, CEOs tend to get a bad rap. “Someone like Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google, reportedly earned $226 million last year, much to employees' chagrin.” However, Orford pointed out that the situation isn’t all bad.

“Others, like Tim Cook, who actually requested a decrease and Elon Musk works for free,” the author of ‘The Financially Independent Millennial’ said.

Orford stressed the fact that salary ranges tend to be a hot topic in the workplace. “Suppose we have two people with the same background, job, and seniority. It would be natural for these people to expect to be paid the same. However, that's often not the case. Other factors like quality of work, negotiating skills, and charisma make all the difference.”

The personal finance expert revealed to Bored Panda that, in his experience, the people earning an above-average salary are able to do things better than others.

“They make themselves indispensable. For instance, a secretary in a law firm who's the only one in the office who can manage the photocopier, well, she might get a higher rate for that skill alone,” he said.

“Or, suppose you're a programmer, and you're the only one who can write a specific routine to do X Y, and Z. As long as your product is in-demand, you'll earn a higher income.”

Though there will often be people who earn more than you, it doesn’t mean that you have to be a pauper while making the world a better place. Medical professionals, for example, are incredibly generously compensated for their skills in the United States. 

According to Investopedia, among the 25 highest-paying occupations in the country, a jaw-dropping 22 of them are healthcare positions. For example, the mean annual salary for cardiologists in 2023 was $353,970.

Meanwhile, anesthesiologists made an average of $331,190 per year. The mean salary for oral and maxillofacial surgeons stood at $311,460, emergency medicine physicians made $310,640, and orthopedic surgeons earned $306,220 per year.

Taking these numbers into account, it would be naive to say that the job market is entirely ‘unfair.’ Sure, there will always be professions where the value to society that’s provided is outpaced by their earnings, but this doesn’t mean that the entire system is ‘unfair.’ Wages often show what society values. So if stockbrokers, real estate agents, preachers, and influencers take the cake, it’s best to take a good long look at what a culture prioritizes, instead of grumbling about unfairness.

Workplace expert Lynn Talyor explained to Bored Panda during a previous interview that envying those who have more than us is a very human instinct. However, it can be a very destructive trait, too.

“It’s okay to envy people in a healthy way and learn from their successes. But it’s another to become bitter and destroy your precious hours or days. Time is not a renewable resource,” Taylor explained.

The expert argued that if someone’s envious of others, it’s vital to understand exactly where those feelings come from. For instance, they might not actually want to be rich but want to travel more. “Maybe you can achieve that in your life or even incorporate it into your career—without sacrificing your soul for ‘the mighty dollar,’” she said

“You can’t dissect someone’s wealth from the rest of their life. Do you envy every aspect of that person’s life? You’re likely much happier with many facets of your own. People will always have more and less: money, skill sets, looks, corporate status, and so on. It’s the grass is greener fallacy. So try to put things in perspective and become grateful for what do you have. This will keep you in a more grounded space,” the workplace expert shared.

“Realize that happiness doesn’t always come in the form of money. Very often wealthy people constantly worry about how to preserve their assets. Many must also cope with the burden of jealousy and alienation among friends, and even family.”