• It really comes down to the degree. Someone could spend significantly less to get an IT related degree and start out making more than what your wife currently makes with, probably, a much better work life balance. That person could easily double that in a few years.

    Honestly, we simply do not value health care and teachers as much as we should.

    • Agreed, but we’ve also spent the last 30 years telling every high school student that they HAVE to have a collage degree if they don’t want to be “flipping burgers”.

      As a result, when the local plumber died in Greensboro, AL, there was no one local to take over the work. The next nearest plumber was 60 miles away and they were happy to charge accordingly.

      Ditto electricians, ditto ditto carpenters, masons, mechanics and whatever you call the folks that work with natural gas (plumbers? Pipe fitters?)

      All jobs are subject to supply and demand. I make what I make because not enough people want my job to drive my wages down. But right now, in Greensboro, AL, a plumber could charge damn near whatever they wanted.

      My wife makes what she makes because the folks that need her services can’t really afford to pay what she is worth.