this post was submitted on 26 Jul 2023
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IDK, ask the companies who refuse to pay fair wages and the government who refuses to force them to do so?
It’s not like the government is exactly paying fair wages themselves either. Ask any teacher, nurse, researcher or anyone else working in the public sector.
As a scientist, I’d get a major wage increase if I’d switch to the private sector. I mean I’ve got a PhD in physics, and I’m making $43k per year before taxes. Not meaning that as a complaint, just making the point that the government is not exactly treating their laborers much better.
After inflation being in double digits, I got a wage increase of 2%, at least the private sector averaged on 7% or so.
I hear you and I'm sorry that you have to deal with that. I haven't even gotten a 2% raise in years. Funny how the government has no issue giving themselves (i.e. the politicians) raises whenever they want.
I feel like you have a legitimate basis for complaint. I'm a fucking school bus driver and the only reason I make less than you is that I only get 20 hours a week. The more senior drivers who work 40+ hours a week make close to $60K (with health insurance and a pension).
Maybe Physicists should join the Teamsters with us lol.
Just a small bit of nuance that I neglected to give before, I do live in Sweden and $43k gets you much further in Sweden than in the US.
It’s a above median income, which is about $38k. (Both numbers are rounded, in total im line 6k above median per year). But still very significantly below what I can get with my same degree in industry.
It’s a known thing in academia, the pay is not great. Even very high ranking professors, who essentially could have a CEO-like position in industry, still don’t crack six digits here.