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Someone Asks “What Job Position Is 100% Overvalued And Overpaid?” And 35 People Don’t Hold Back
There are quite decent odds that, right now, you’re sipping a cup of coffee or a mug of tea and taking a well-deserved break from work. Maybe you love your job and find what you do to be incredibly purposeful. Maybe things are quite the opposite and you absolutely loathe what you do, hoping to jump ship at the first opportunity. Whatever the case might be, you might feel underpaid…
…and that some people at your company or elsewhere in the job industry are incredibly overpaid. The skills that we think should be valued aren’t always what’s valued the most. And it shows! Artist Aaron, aka redditor u/Airsinner, asked the internet about the jobs that they believe are definitely overvalued and overpaid, and they delivered—with a bang! Scroll down to check out their opinions.
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
Whatever it is the Kardashians do.
Heather Daugherty 1 year ago
they're exploiters, period. pointless, vacuous, greedy, clueless, phony-faced glamazons. please go, all of them.
#3
Hospital CEO’s… and actually almost all hospital upper management. There are so many layers of management that many of them barely step foot into a healthcare facility EVER, let alone EVER speak to a patient, yet all of them make 6, 7, 8 figure salaries plus mega bonuses. My hospital network CEO makes $11 million salary not including bonuses, which bothers me, but bothers me even more are all the board members and s**t directly under him making nearly as much. It’s hundreds of millions of wasted money paid to the people trying to screw staff out of good pay and screwing patients into paying big bills.
Artist Aaron's thread went viral and it’s no wonder why. Topics about work, money, and justice are very popular. And there’s nothing quite like the injustice of being underpaid and exhausted and seeing someone putting in barely any effort and making bank to make you seriously mad at the world. The redditor found a topic that was bound to get others' attention.
The fact of the matter is that life isn’t fair. Some job positions will inevitably be overpaid while others will be underpaid. The best that society can do is reduce that gap as much as possible. We’ve written before on Bored Panda how society doesn’t necessarily value the people who contribute the most to everyone. Educators and social workers are vital to the health of our society, and yet, they’re often not who get prioritized. At least, not financially.
#4
I really hate how the brightest minds of a generation have been funneled into finance instead of science, engineering, politics, medicine and a ton of other critically useful professions because finance is where the money is.
A hedge fund is just a gambling house. It makes no net contribution to society. It just moves money from one pocket to another. We, as one the whole, are not better off for its existence. That can't be said of many other professions. We don't need hedge fund managers. We need doctors.
What a waste.
Sue from England 1 year ago
I think by middle school they should be dividing kids up into groups: 1 group that are intellectuals and show promise and skill when it comes to using their brains for working out problems and can argue/debate situations etc, another group who can create things with their hands, woodwork, electric, plumbing etc Group3 who are more empathetic & show promise in more social skills, last group would be for those who don't fit in any group but need more time to develop their skills.Nurture these kids at that age, allow them to hone their skills in the last 4/5 years of school, there could be a good balance of skilled kids leaving school & entering the workforce. I'm assuming here their formative years in school have taught them reading writing and math which they should master before specialising. And then in their final couple of years, they should be taught life skills...cooking, cleaning, personal hygiene, interview skills, relationships, form filling, check writing..useful stuff. IMO
#5
TV preachers.
Alecto76 1 year ago
I'm agnostic, but I like to learn about religions for various reasons. I've read the Bible - nothing was more clear than Jesus despised the rich. He said nothing negative about anyone, except the rich. Do the followers of these preachers not read Jesus's own words? Let's say for a minute that the bible they themselves hold dear is true - have a good time in hell preacher!
#6
CEOs of hospitals. (I say this as a nurse who continually sees them get bonuses, despite us being short-staffed & getting 3% raises)
The people who get paid the most tend to be those who generate the most profits. That’s why you see so many CEOs with morbidly obese paychecks. It’s a symptom of society valuing profits (ironically) more than tangible value.
Financial traders and software engineers get paid more than construction workers, artists, and farmers. They all bring something to the table, but the former work with something ephemeral while the latter work in ‘the real world.’
However, at the same time, some objectively valuable professions are rewarded very generously. For instance, in the United States, some of the best-paying jobs include anesthesiologists, oral and maxillofacial surgeons, obstetricians and gynecologists, surgeons, orthodontists, physicians, and psychiatrists.
These positions all earn a median salary of $208k, according to US News. Next in line are nurse anesthetists ($195.6k median wage), pediatricians ($170.5k), and pilots ($134.6k). In short, what humankind really does value are all types of medical and mental health professionals, as well as pilots.
#7
Ex-politicians on the lecture circuit who get paid insane speaking fees
#8
Anything in sports, honestly if they stopped playing what would change?
StrangeOne 1 year ago
Idk but I know of a good example. When the Winnipeg Jets got kicked out of Winnipeg for some years I honestly didn't know the difference. We still had hockey games. We still had the Manitoba Moose to cheer for. We still had a hockey arena. When the Jets came back there were a ton of excited, happy fans and the annual White Out party would be held downtown for a week. Much to the inconveniencing of businesses and employees who have to work in the places blocked off for the party. We had a bigger, fancier hockey arena built in the city core. Didn't improve safety, security, public funding, vitality, and quite frankly the city has gotten worse over the years (no fault of the Jets nor hockey, but just in general).
#9
CEO of Tesla. The guy stays 100% of his time on Twitter, clearly it not that important for the company.
LeeAnne B 1 year ago
Top management are rarely important to the running of a Company. They're mostly not even aware of what goes on at grassroots level.
El Dee 1 year ago
He's never invented nor innovated anything. He came from money and invested it, we should remind ourselves that he has made good investments and done a few things that people have..
Quinn Hofmann 1 year ago
But also people shouldn't think he's the modern Edison (or Tesla... the edgy, cool alternative inventor) -- definitely chose that company name to project that image. The average person DOES think he's invented all these innovative technologies but he's just a South African trust fund baby
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Marilyn Russell 1 year ago
Ever since he referred to a diver who helped in the cave rescue of the Thai kids as a pedophile, I had no more respect for him.
Heather Vandegrift 1 year ago
There's a great YouTube video that talks about how he's an idiot and the only reason he's so rich is his mom is rich and gave him the money to buy Tesla from the people who actually created the cars
Celtic Pirate Queen 1 year ago
And I'd like to remind everyone that he didn't start the Tesla company. His emerald mine rich Daddy bought it for him. My brother bought one of those cars. Says it's the biggest piece of sh*t he's ever had & is literally $10,000 less valuable than when he got it a year ago.
Seadog 1 year ago (edited)
Tesla is a joke. There have been superior designs but because of political payoffs etc Tesla moved forward while others are legislated out of business. If the oil cartel and EPA would keep their nose out the auto industry, we'd have 200MPG ICE vehicles. Ford, GM and Dodge have been building prototype engines like this for decades. It's nothing new, they're just not allowed to produce them. People think electrics will save the world without understanding the environmental impact of building one or comprehending the most polluting item on any vehicle isn't the exhaust, it's the tires. If they were really about the environment, all EVs would use universal single cell batteries that anyone could change. Lose a cell? Buy and replace that one cell. Instead they use single application batteries that takes a special tech to replace and that's IF it's still available when you need it. It's already being proven that in many cases, batteries are NLA after 10 years.
Lady Lestrange 1 year ago
This man is an abomination to the entire mankind. It irks me that he even exists.
Some rando dude 1 year ago
In all seriousness, why does everyone hate him? I've asked on several other BP surveys and articles with his name on it. No one can give me a straight answer. Do you hate him because he's rich? You don't agree with his politics? Why?
Potato 1 year ago
I'm more curious about the people who have read about the things he's done and DON'T hate him.
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Randy Tankersley 1 year ago
You know this guy was considered a full blown Genius, until he bought Twitter, then he became an idiot. That’s the problem I have with him owning twitter everybody has an opinion about every action he takes. When he just was owned Spacex and Tesla hardly anyone could fault him for his actions.
Exotic Butters 1 year ago
Haaa your just mad that he owns it and doesn't love your politics lol
JC 1 year ago (edited)
You know what's funny. Liberals have sung this man's praises for years about how he's helping the environment, furthering sustainable energy, leading the charge in silicon valley, creating green products, revolutionizing the space industry, and on and on and on. But as soon as he simply starts sharing the literal, proveable, undeniable truth about information suppression on Twitter by liberal politicians and agencies, now all of a sudden he's a lunatic, who doesn't know his a*s from a whole in the ground, probably wears tin foil hats, and blows Trump on the regular... The 180 libs have done on this guy is so blatantly obvious it'd be funny if it weren't just painfully pathetic.
Pinkpanda 1 year ago
Liberals, nah, fanboys, yes. Let's not overstate his popularity. It's the same people that defend billionaires because they think they will be one. That's not a political party, that's a mindset
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If you feel undervalued and underpaid, you have three choices. First of all, you can (and should!) talk to your boss about a raise. Explain to them how much value you bring to the company and back it up with evidence. Have a couple of reviews like that every year to remind management that you’re an essential cog in their machine. Nobody else will fight for a better wage for you, so it really comes down to your own actions.
#10
Anything that could be reduced to "I make a lot of money because I move a lot of money", like brokers, insurers, wall street stuff, real estate agents...
#11
President of FIFA
#12
Pharmaceutical or medical sales.
I’m a small scale clinician who deals with medical sales reps 5 days/week who are the [apparently] sweetest, bubbliest, most seemingly accommodating people on earth— if you buy their thing. Since your patients **need** theirs, except they’re usually not even medically qualified to make those determinations. They can’t answer medical questions relevant to their products. Every rep we deal with can be googled and earns >3x the combined salary of my office staff comprising 4 people.
Penny Kemper 1 year ago
Yeah this should be outlawed. Selling to doctors which definitely influences some of them. So that they use the new expensive drugs instead of drugs they already been using for years. Then people hate the insurance companies for not covering. That's the only good thing they do, make doctors prove other drug have been tried and aren't working before they can use the new very expensive drugs.
Your second option is quitting… or rather, looking for another job while you’re still employed and negotiating a severance package at your old one. Many workers have power fantasies about how epically they’ll quit while burning every bridge and slamming every door, but you have to take the time to figure out what’s in it for you. Maybe being a bit more patient and tactical can put you in a better financial position down the line. Of course, that doesn’t mean that you should tolerate exhaustion, bullying, and unpaid overtime. Just be strategic about how you handle it.
#13
Religious Leader
#14
We paid a guy/company $10,000 to come and do a motivational speech at the school, which was supposed to improve kindness among the kids at school. It didn't work.
#15
College football coaches. The highest-paid public employees in many states, and is even more egregious considering for decades the students were not allowed to make money from endorsement deals and whatever. Glad that has changed, but it's still ludicrous for Alabama or Mississippi for example to sink so much money into their football programs when the rest of the two states struggle in almost every other metric.
censorshipsucks 1 year ago
definitely an american thing... and I can't see how or why they should be paid out of public purse?
Your third option is to work for yourself. Not everyone is built to be an entrepreneur (heck, not everyone wants the stress), but for some people, it is incredibly liberating to start their own business. Focus on a side hustle or two while still keeping your day job and see where things go from there. It’s likely that you’ll need to put in a lot more time and energy into turning your projects into full-time gigs than you thought. So be patient and keep at it.
#16
EMS is the opposite if this. Just like to point out how many ambulances are shut down EVERYDAY because of understaffing.
EMS is treated like s**t for how much work they do. As a paramedic I have more responsibility than an RN, get paid less, and I'm not in a controlled environment.
To answer the question though pro Athletes are probably the best example.
#17
Positions where the individual can’t (doesn’t know how to) perform the job of the persons beneath them yet are in charge of them.
Donkeywheel 1 year ago (edited)
This one is completely ridiculous. Any good organization, for profit or not, works by hiring competent people to perform tasks they’re good at and coordinating all of them is a skill and a position. Whether it be a company, a ngo, an association or even your kids sport team, they work by making people with various skills work together. No, you absolutely don’t need to be able to perform the job of everyone in the team you lead. Quite the opposite: you’re a good manager/boss/captain/guru or whatever if you’re able to delegate, empower and trust the expertise of others that you don’t (and can’t possibly when things get complicated) have.
#18
Any CEO with a golden parachute and/or a salary greater than 100% over the average of the company.
#19
I know a life coach who charges $300-500 per person for a 'seminar' that's just four hours of her leading yoga and breathing exercises and telling everyone they're doing great. She makes $2,400 per weekend. F***ing wild.
censorshipsucks 1 year ago
I feel nothing for this. If you are stupid enough to pay someone 300 dollars to teach you to slow down your breathing you deserve to lose your money.
#20
Not sure the exact title but saw a video of smug looking woman bumble bragging she makes 250k a year at some Org in los Angelos that “helps” homeless.
Basically what I’m getting at is b******t made up foundations that are just milking the system under the guise of “social work” to make bank and fleece people.
Will Cable 1 year ago
With how many 'charities' there are these days it makes you start to think they only set the charity up to make money for themselves and not to help others they claim they are helping.
#22
Most middle management at large corporations. What do you do.
#24
Member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC). They've had a lengthy history of excessive demands ($4 million US spent on "entertainment" in Nagano, traffic lanes dedicated to IOC members during the games, etc.)
They make very few decisions, all of which are politically motivated. They travel extensively and are paid well for it:
[https://dailytrojan.com/2021/08/16/progress-without-profit-the-ioc-benefits-itself-at-the-expense-of-athletes/#:~:text=Although%20most%20IOC%20members%20are,meetings%20and%20at%20the%20Olympics](https://dailytrojan.com/2021/08/16/progress-without-profit-the-ioc-benefits-itself-at-the-expense-of-athletes/#:~:text=Although%20most%20IOC%20members%20are,meetings%20and%20at%20the%20Olympics).
From the article:
"Although technically a volunteer, the IOC President receives a yearly “allowance” of $251,000 and lives rent-free in a five-star hotel and spa in Switzerland. "
Penny Kemper 1 year ago
Yeah why so they always built a new arena for the Olympics. It seem way to expensive
#25
I'm bracing for impact here but ......Diversity and Inclusion officers are doing much of what HR has been doing for years.
Neuridivergent 1 year ago
Good organizations had HR managing this well. But then allegations are made... Cya.. We will do better... Yadayada... Lets hire a diversity and inclusion person to tell us what we should be able to figure our ourselves.
#26
Professional Athlete
Sergio Bicerra 1 year ago
Only when the sport becomes a business, and if you're a male athlete.
#27
Homeopathic practitioner.
Binky Melnik 1 year ago
I swear I’m breaking the nose of the next fool who tells me that water has “memory.” 🤬🤬🤬
#28
Anyone who makes a ton of money by inserting themselves into big transactions and charging fees as a percentage of the transaction (brokers, title companies, etc.).
#29
Stock broker. Parasitic middleman between oligarchs and other peoples money.
Lawrence 1 year ago
I hate to be this guy but stockbrokers aren't the problem - they're a necessary component of a system that is deeply flawed. Publicly traded corporations should not exist. The idea of limitless scaling and increased profitability year-over-year is dangerous fiction. Stockbrokers, like Amazon execs, are just getting theirs while the structure they work within destroys humanity. Who can blame them?
#30
Do car salesmen really do any work anymore?
Last time I bought a car I looked online, did my research, and knew exactly what I wanted and basically showed up ready to buy. The dealer just gave me the keys for a test drive, then did the paperwork for me.
Adrian Scarlett 1 year ago
Sales people in general are a waste of space. They basically get paid to lie about a product or service to potential customers.
#31
My mum from whom I am estranged works as the vice president of reward at an international company. She basically arranges contracts so millionaires can get more money and gets paid 189,000 pounds a year for it. Even she thinks it’s ridiculous.
#32
Knowing the CEO of one of the largest video game companies. CEO. He doesn't know s**t about the industry.
#33
If someone else is "Regional VP" they are either drowning in responsibilities working 70 hrs a week; or they have absolutely nothing to do other than collecting a check.
#34
Gillette 'engineers' - they took 5 years to go from 3 blades to 4
#35
My uncle was a commercial airline pilot. He described his job as “vastly overpaid in normal circumstances and vastly underpaid in emergency situations.”
What do you think ?
Druklet 1 year ago
Surprised nobody mentioned actors or singers. If you get paid $10 mil for a movie, that is too much.
Leo Domitrix 1 year ago
As with athletes, their only purpose is to entertain. I'm never *that* entertained!
Load More Replies...
Jessica Olson 1 year ago
You could try actually curating your article a little better, I like the idea and theme, but all the repetitions took away from it. It would have been better if left at 20 and not including repetitions, or keep looking for more people to give you unique answers.
Dee 1 year ago
City consultant. We've had 4 different ones in 6 years who haven't done s**t. If the first had done their job, why 3 more so soon? The average salary: $400,000.
Stannous Flouride 1 year ago
No consultant has EVER looked at an organization and said, "You know what? Your system isn't perfect but it works. I suggest you just leave it be."
Load More Replies...
Thor Haugen 1 year ago
Anyone who makes more than 10 times the lowest paid full-time person in their company in all forms of compensation. There should be a law.
Alexej Dvorak 1 year ago
I'm disappointed nobody mentioned Real Estate Agents. While I was looking for a home to buy and had to deal with one, most of the time they didn't know sh!t about the object. It was always just "I'd have to ask the owner" or "I'll get back to you about that", so they basically charge 5% for unlocking the door for you.
Kenny Kulbiski 1 year ago
School system superintendents. If there's a problem form a committee and p**n it off on them or the assistant superintendent, vice superintendent, business superintendent, etc.
François Carré 1 year ago
Here is my (totally free of charge) librarian's advice about this topic : read this excellent book by the late David Graeber : https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/B******t-Jobs/David-Graeber/9781501143335
Channo Sagara 1 year ago
People whining about athletes don't realize that those people can only work for 10-15 years, then they're out. They gotta save up for the rest 40-50 years. Not everyone are lebron who can get massive shoes deals.
Angelo Irawan 1 year ago
Started with agreeing the top 5 in this list. Gets more nonsense and repetitive as I scroll lower.
Must Be Bored Again 1 year ago
Tax preparer. We shouldn't have to pay a months salary to have someone preoour
Must Be Bored Again 1 year ago
Oops! Prepare our taxes all the while telling us how much money they can legally save you by finding loopholes that reduce your taxes. Anything they saved, you spent in fees. We should not have to be accountants just to file our taxes.
Load More Replies...
Houseof No 1 year ago
Did you know most singers only get about 25 cents per song sold? That tiny on a $5 download or a $20 CD.
Yet Another Thomas Moore 1 year ago (edited)
Most of these just show how little people understand about the jobs of managerial staff. Just because they're not directly contributing to the work doesn't mean they're not very very important. It's the middle managements job to make sure everyone underneath them is working together well, not just doing their own jobs at the expense of everyone else's ability to do so.
Josh Gilland 1 year ago
It's also a shame no one mentioned lobbyist and such. Or is that saved for a list of what jobs shouldn't have come into existence? A few of these would make that list as well.
Josh Gilland 1 year ago
Basically it's if you can bring me in(entertainment is part of this)/save me/ or make me $money$ you get paid a s**t ton. If you're a middleman or on your knees yes bossers, you get paid. If you do actual work and things for the everyday person odds are you're underpaid.
One Happy Doggo 1 year ago
Honestly what’s the point in how much people get paid? As long as it cycles back into the economy it doesn’t really matter. Sure, some people deserve/need money more, but as long as it doesn’t affect the rest of us, it doesn’t really matter, right?
Heliocracy 1 year ago
It takes money to make money in an economy rigged for rich investors. The money "cycles" back into the economy, but the real question is, who is benefitting from that cycle? Remember capitalism is a big machine for taking money from the poor and concentrating it in the hands of the rich. If you don't do something to balance it out, you end up with Bangladesh or Mexico.
Load More Replies...
Greg Wilhelm 1 year ago (edited)
I've been doing the most dangerous job in the country for 20 years and the nation doesn't want to compensate us for the risk we take daily to support our families. A lot of it is aesthetics for rich people but we also promote a TON of safety for the hazards all around us. https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2023/03/02/most-dangerous-jobs-america-database/11264064002/
Druklet 1 year ago
Surprised nobody mentioned actors or singers. If you get paid $10 mil for a movie, that is too much.
Leo Domitrix 1 year ago
As with athletes, their only purpose is to entertain. I'm never *that* entertained!
Load More Replies... Jessica Olson 1 year ago
You could try actually curating your article a little better, I like the idea and theme, but all the repetitions took away from it. It would have been better if left at 20 and not including repetitions, or keep looking for more people to give you unique answers.
Dee 1 year ago
City consultant. We've had 4 different ones in 6 years who haven't done s**t. If the first had done their job, why 3 more so soon? The average salary: $400,000.
Stannous Flouride 1 year ago
No consultant has EVER looked at an organization and said, "You know what? Your system isn't perfect but it works. I suggest you just leave it be."
Load More Replies... Thor Haugen 1 year ago
Anyone who makes more than 10 times the lowest paid full-time person in their company in all forms of compensation. There should be a law.
Alexej Dvorak 1 year ago
I'm disappointed nobody mentioned Real Estate Agents. While I was looking for a home to buy and had to deal with one, most of the time they didn't know sh!t about the object. It was always just "I'd have to ask the owner" or "I'll get back to you about that", so they basically charge 5% for unlocking the door for you.
Kenny Kulbiski 1 year ago
School system superintendents. If there's a problem form a committee and p**n it off on them or the assistant superintendent, vice superintendent, business superintendent, etc.
François Carré 1 year ago
Here is my (totally free of charge) librarian's advice about this topic : read this excellent book by the late David Graeber : https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/B******t-Jobs/David-Graeber/9781501143335
Channo Sagara 1 year ago
People whining about athletes don't realize that those people can only work for 10-15 years, then they're out. They gotta save up for the rest 40-50 years. Not everyone are lebron who can get massive shoes deals.
Angelo Irawan 1 year ago
Started with agreeing the top 5 in this list. Gets more nonsense and repetitive as I scroll lower.
Must Be Bored Again 1 year ago
Tax preparer. We shouldn't have to pay a months salary to have someone preoour
Must Be Bored Again 1 year ago
Oops! Prepare our taxes all the while telling us how much money they can legally save you by finding loopholes that reduce your taxes. Anything they saved, you spent in fees. We should not have to be accountants just to file our taxes.
Load More Replies... Houseof No 1 year ago
Did you know most singers only get about 25 cents per song sold? That tiny on a $5 download or a $20 CD.
Yet Another Thomas Moore 1 year ago (edited)
Most of these just show how little people understand about the jobs of managerial staff. Just because they're not directly contributing to the work doesn't mean they're not very very important. It's the middle managements job to make sure everyone underneath them is working together well, not just doing their own jobs at the expense of everyone else's ability to do so.
Josh Gilland 1 year ago
It's also a shame no one mentioned lobbyist and such. Or is that saved for a list of what jobs shouldn't have come into existence? A few of these would make that list as well.
Josh Gilland 1 year ago
Basically it's if you can bring me in(entertainment is part of this)/save me/ or make me $money$ you get paid a s**t ton. If you're a middleman or on your knees yes bossers, you get paid. If you do actual work and things for the everyday person odds are you're underpaid.
One Happy Doggo 1 year ago
Honestly what’s the point in how much people get paid? As long as it cycles back into the economy it doesn’t really matter. Sure, some people deserve/need money more, but as long as it doesn’t affect the rest of us, it doesn’t really matter, right?
Heliocracy 1 year ago
It takes money to make money in an economy rigged for rich investors. The money "cycles" back into the economy, but the real question is, who is benefitting from that cycle? Remember capitalism is a big machine for taking money from the poor and concentrating it in the hands of the rich. If you don't do something to balance it out, you end up with Bangladesh or Mexico.
Load More Replies... Greg Wilhelm 1 year ago (edited)
I've been doing the most dangerous job in the country for 20 years and the nation doesn't want to compensate us for the risk we take daily to support our families. A lot of it is aesthetics for rich people but we also promote a TON of safety for the hazards all around us. https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2023/03/02/most-dangerous-jobs-america-database/11264064002/
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