Why do Construction workers earn more than teachers?

Answer 1

Many jobs are based on supply and demand. For instance, if everyone was trained to be a brain surgeon, guess what, brain surgeons would get paid squat. It is not always how difficult a job is (though construction is alot harder than it appears), it's the uniqueness of the job, and the demand for such. In a "perfect" government-controlled socialist state (like communist Russia), people who work with their hand would always make less, and those educated would always make more.

Our society, that being Western-based, places an awful great deal on high school students going to college, and majoring in a professional or middle management type job. Such career steering has create a glut of young students who, though educate, cannot find work, and are forced to take a McJob. Whilst at the same time, a person with no more than a high school education, or GED is working in a satisfying technical field, that pays well.

Eventually, some college students will get that "job", that makes going to college justified, but many, many will not. And many, many will have underwhelming, tedious jobs that breed mediocrity, and jealousy. The university system creates a student that believe they deserve more in life. Real life wants people that can perform miracles, and reality pays for it.

The world needs plumbers, electricians and carpenters. Since every student has been trained to by the system to "look down" on these types of jobs as mere uneducated drones, many students, that have physical talents are being squashed, and take jobs from pool of ever lower paying "management" jobs.

One thing to consider, construction work does require intelligence, contrary to what is believed. The work is getting more and more technical. The work is not easy all of the time. Construction workers tend to "act" like lug heads at times, for fun.

Myself: HVAC mechanic /supervisor, HS grad, dropped out of c.college, went to navy, went to A/C tech school. Make $110,000 year, mostly office work, 40 hr week, no overtime,full benefits/pension, house paid for.

Girlfriend: Teacher, Masters in Education, Masters in Administration. Makes 45% less money, but loves her job.