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Comment by lotsofpulp | Hacker News Reader

> $81,376 average wage

This statistic is insufficient. One also needs to calculate wage per unit time ($/h), work schedule (Mon to Fri 8AM to 5PM or evenings/nights/weekends/holidays), constantly changing work schedules, mortality/morbidity risk including wear and tear, work atmosphere (dealing with volatile or rude people in general public facing role versus working only with other professionals).

All the people who work in positions where they have to physically show up must be aware that they need to be charging extra for being in a position where they have to physically show up relative to others got the benefit of sitting at home.

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>>>All the people who work in positions where they have to physically show up must be aware that they need to be charging extra for being in a position where they have to physically show up relative to others got the benefit of sitting at home.

Heh...this is how I feel as a contractor who works on-site at the client, when our corporate-internal peers are working from home. Client-facing staff are the only revenue generators but we aren't getting any extra compensation for our greater COVID risk. -_-

Right? A short time ago, few of us were thinking in those terms.

Don't forget barrier to entry of the profession in the first place. A very specific degree is required.

While I get your point, the stat is completely sufficient.

Point being serious under compensation.

Everything reinforcing that is good, and gravy.

Some might think a national average of $81k in annual income is not under compensation considering the median income by state ranges from $50k to $90k.

I would be unable to compare one’s income to another without knowing all the other details I listed at a minimum.

As a side note, I will start believing the balance between purchasers of labor and sellers of labor will have been achieved when purchasers of labor have to start advertising minimum pay per unit of time and advertise consistent work schedules.

Given the majority is paycheck to paycheck, many and myself included see under compensation as a chronic problem the result of economic policy building it to the point we see today.[1]

Those details are unnecessary at these income levels. Basic cost and risk exposure most people face are enough to understand sums in that range.

[1] The implied promise was it being far less expensive to live and work. That simply did not happen, and that failure defines the problem in my view, just to be clear.

Where I live all nurses work overtime; I imagine that inflates the number quite a bit while taking a huge toll.

Yup. Agreed. And now, sustained, not optional OT.

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