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Folks Reveal 32 Of The Most Prestigious Jobs That Barely Pay People A Livable Wage

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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.

#1

Folks Reveal 32 Of The Most Prestigious Jobs That Barely Pay People A Livable Wage Teachers.

lgbt-love4 , nappy Report

Final score:

75points

james stevenson 5 months ago

It depends whether you work in a public or private school.

7points

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#2

Folks Reveal 32 Of The Most Prestigious Jobs That Barely Pay People A Livable Wage Librarians. I couldn’t believe the position required a Masters degree for what they get paid.

braids_and_pigtails , Tima Miroshnichenko Report

Final score:

63points

Admiralu 5 months ago

And now they have to put up with the book ban c**p. They don't get paid enough

26points

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#3

Folks Reveal 32 Of The Most Prestigious Jobs That Barely Pay People A Livable Wage Paramedic.

gregaustex , Mikhail Nilov Report

Final score:

50points

LadyRougarou 5 months 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.

11points

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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.”

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#4

Folks Reveal 32 Of The Most Prestigious Jobs That Barely Pay People A Livable Wage 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.

ChickenXing , Brooke Cagle Report

Final score:

48points

Emo Nemo 5 months ago

I used to work in a group home for delinquent youths... I made $11 an hour and got beaten up and stabbed on more than one occasion. That was 15 years ago though.

3points

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#5

Folks Reveal 32 Of The Most Prestigious Jobs That Barely Pay People A Livable Wage 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.

WTFisThatSMell , Pavel Danilyuk Report

Final score:

38points

LadyRougarou 5 months 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?

5points

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#6

Folks Reveal 32 Of The Most Prestigious Jobs That Barely Pay People A Livable Wage Most of the crew in film & tv production sets.

Professional_Bee_930 , Lê Minh Report

Final score:

35points

james stevenson 5 months ago

Most of money goes to the stars, the director, and the movie making budget

13points

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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

Folks Reveal 32 Of The Most Prestigious Jobs That Barely Pay People A Livable Wage 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.

laurenlcd , Arthur Krijgsman Report

Final score:

34points

Marno C. 5 months 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.'

9points

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#8

Folks Reveal 32 Of The Most Prestigious Jobs That Barely Pay People A Livable Wage Any field relating to veterinary work or animal work in general….very low pay.

SqueezableFruit , Mikhail Nilov Report

Final score:

33points

Marcus Wolvaardt 5 months ago

Really … cause my vet drives a Porsche

19points

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#9

Folks Reveal 32 Of The Most Prestigious Jobs That Barely Pay People A Livable Wage College Professor.

Then-Wealth-1481 , fauxels Report

Final score:

32points

Zephyr343 5 months ago

Tenured professor probably more. Most universities have a "red book" that discloses the amount all staff at a public university makes. It is public information.

10points

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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

Folks Reveal 32 Of The Most Prestigious Jobs That Barely Pay People A Livable Wage Certified Nursing Assistant.

Lala6699 , Laura James Report

Final score:

31points

Marnie 5 months 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.

10points

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#11

Folks Reveal 32 Of The Most Prestigious Jobs That Barely Pay People A Livable Wage Any position in academic research.

Final score:

30points

flower petals 5 months ago

Can confirm 📚🙃

9points

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#12

Folks Reveal 32 Of The Most Prestigious Jobs That Barely Pay People A Livable Wage 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 .

Tremblingchihuahua8 , cottonbro studio Report

Final score:

27points

Panda Kicki 5 months 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 🤣

8points

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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!

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#13

Folks Reveal 32 Of The Most Prestigious Jobs That Barely Pay People A Livable Wage 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. .

Xerisca , Andrea Piacquadio Report

Final score:

27points

Orion Red 5 months ago

I hadn't heard that.

14points

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#14

Folks Reveal 32 Of The Most Prestigious Jobs That Barely Pay People A Livable Wage Pretty much anything at a museum, even famous ones.

PlebCityBaby , Darya Sannikova Report

Final score:

27points

Michael Largey 5 months 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.

8points

#15

Folks Reveal 32 Of The Most Prestigious Jobs That Barely Pay People A Livable Wage Architecture. Ridiculously competitive AND low pay.

sappy60 , Karolina Grabowska Report

Final score:

26points

Damira Balent 5 months 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 😮‍💨

1point

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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.

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“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

Folks Reveal 32 Of The Most Prestigious Jobs That Barely Pay People A Livable Wage 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.

JezmundBeserker , cottonbro studio Report

Final score:

24points

meeeeeeeeeeee 5 months ago

savings to me means you're not surviving - you're thriving, baby

14points

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#17

Folks Reveal 32 Of The Most Prestigious Jobs That Barely Pay People A Livable Wage Most science jobs like Biologist.

Resident_Pop143 , Edward Jenner Report

Final score:

20points

Marnie 5 months 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.

8points

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#18

Folks Reveal 32 Of The Most Prestigious Jobs That Barely Pay People A Livable Wage I thought Administrative Assistant sounded cool until I became one. Feels like I’m a one-man department for menial tasks.

its_garrus , Jsme MILA Report

Final score:

17points

Steve Hall 5 months ago

They use to call that job a secretary.

12points

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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

Folks Reveal 32 Of The Most Prestigious Jobs That Barely Pay People A Livable Wage 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.

Zestypalmtree , August de Richelieu Report

Final score:

17points

JL 5 months ago

The big money doesn't roll in until you get elected and hooked up with lobbyists.

21points

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#20

Folks Reveal 32 Of The Most Prestigious Jobs That Barely Pay People A Livable Wage 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.

InitialAd2295 , Chevanon Photography Report

Final score:

16points

Marnie 5 months ago

I didn't know what a Millwright was. From the internet: "A millwright is a craftsperson or skilled tradesperson who installs, dismantles, maintains, repairs, reassembles, and moves machinery in factories, power plants, and construction sites"

17points

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#21

Folks Reveal 32 Of The Most Prestigious Jobs That Barely Pay People A Livable Wage Criminal prosecutors.

SugaBoyOsheean , Sora Shimazaki Report

Final score:

16points

Steve Hall 5 months ago

They make more than the judge does.

2points

#22

Folks Reveal 32 Of The Most Prestigious Jobs That Barely Pay People A Livable Wage News anchors and Journalists.

Charming_Bowler_9595 , Mido Makasardi ©️ Report

Final score:

15points

TheGoodBoi 5 months ago

Ron Burgundy is doing pretty well. /J

3points

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#23

Folks Reveal 32 Of The Most Prestigious Jobs That Barely Pay People A Livable Wage Paralegals.

CarolynHarris623 , Andrea Piacquadio Report

Final score:

14points

Thee8thsense 5 months 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.

6points

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#24

Folks Reveal 32 Of The Most Prestigious Jobs That Barely Pay People A Livable Wage Every "Account Executive" is a post-college grad making like 45k... Hopefully they can double it with a bonus.

id_death , Andrea Piacquadio Report

Final score:

14points

Brian Droste 5 months ago

45 K sounds pretty good to me.

3points

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#25

Folks Reveal 32 Of The Most Prestigious Jobs That Barely Pay People A Livable Wage Most healthcare IT jobs that are not hospitals.

Objective_Regret2768 , cottonbro studio Report

Final score:

13points

La Lucy 5 months ago

I doubt this. I worked in HIT for years, and the companies all paid very well. When people left or were laid off most took a 15% to 20% pay cut from what they were making, even if they went to work in a care setting.

1point

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#26

Folks Reveal 32 Of The Most Prestigious Jobs That Barely Pay People A Livable Wage Mental health therapist.

badroll7 , cottonbro studio Report

Final score:

13points

Marcus Wolvaardt 5 months ago

Psychologists make a lot less that psychiatrist… who make really really good money

5points

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#27

Folks Reveal 32 Of The Most Prestigious Jobs That Barely Pay People A Livable Wage 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.

enterAdigit , Antoni Shkraba Report

Final score:

12points

jasper 5 months ago

OMG, for real. That's what my degree is in, but I could not find anything that paid me more than my bartending job. Now I dispatch for 911. Still not great, but better than that.

4points

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#28

NASA Astronaut. I think the average pay is like $100K a year which is crazy low for such a dangerous job.

UCFknight2016 Report

Final score:

10points

T. 5 months ago

I'd take that for this freaking adventure!

7points

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#29

Folks Reveal 32 Of The Most Prestigious Jobs That Barely Pay People A Livable Wage 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.

ChuckOfTheIrish , LinkedIn Sales Navigator Report

Final score:

8points

Marcus Wolvaardt 5 months ago

Non profits cfo and directors can be paid well depending on the company, situation and country

2points

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#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.

PermanentRoundFile Report

Final score:

6points

#31

Folks Reveal 32 Of The Most Prestigious Jobs That Barely Pay People A Livable Wage 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.

ArgumentDismal5340 , August de Richelieu Report

Final score:

2points

SBocker78 5 months ago

Barely scraping by on 75k? This person either lives in a very pricey area or can't manage money.

29points

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#32

Folks Reveal 32 Of The Most Prestigious Jobs That Barely Pay People A Livable Wage Sandwich artist.

part_3460 , Alex Green Report

Final score:

-7points

sofacushionfort 5 months ago

But could you ever really put a price tag on such prestige and glamour?

14points

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Beverly Noronha

You can call me Bev! I'm a world-class reader, a quirky writer, and a gardener who paints. If you’re looking for information about tattoos, Bulbasaur, and books, then I'm the NPC you must approach.

You can call me Bev! I'm a world-class reader, a quirky writer, and a gardener who paints. If you’re looking for information about tattoos, Bulbasaur, and books, then I'm the NPC you must approach.

Monika Pašukonytė

I am a visual editor here. In my free time I enjoy the vibrant worlds of art galleries, exhibitions, and soulful concerts. Yet, amidst life's hustle and bustle, I find solace in nature's embrace, cherishing tranquil moments with beloved friends. Deep within, I hold a dream close - to embark on a global journey in an RV, accompanied by my faithful canine companion. Together, we'll wander through diverse cultures, weaving precious memories under the starry night sky, fulfilling the wanderlust that stirs my soul.

I am a visual editor here. In my free time I enjoy the vibrant worlds of art galleries, exhibitions, and soulful concerts. Yet, amidst life's hustle and bustle, I find solace in nature's embrace, cherishing tranquil moments with beloved friends. Deep within, I hold a dream close - to embark on a global journey in an RV, accompanied by my faithful canine companion. Together, we'll wander through diverse cultures, weaving precious memories under the starry night sky, fulfilling the wanderlust that stirs my soul.

What do you think ?

Admiralu 5 months ago

I'll add another one. Pilot and flight attendant. Starting pay is $16k, lower than poverty

11points

Tessana Nemenski 5 months 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)

3points

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Marnie 5 months 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.

9points

T. 5 months 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.

9points

LokisLilButterknife 5 months 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.

1point

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Admiralu 5 months ago

I'll add another one. Pilot and flight attendant. Starting pay is $16k, lower than poverty

11points

Tessana Nemenski 5 months 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)

3points

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Marnie 5 months 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.

9points

T. 5 months 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.

9points

LokisLilButterknife 5 months 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.

1point

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