How do you feel about the low pay in academia?
“Current grad student + instructor. Currently taking two classes and teaching one class. I make 2.4k a month. Most of my colleagues complain about the workload and lack of pay, but I couldn’t be happier. This is the most money I’ve ever made in my life, I’m paid to study my interests and passions, and I get to teach my very own class? I’m on top of the world at the moment. I’ve lived frugally all my life so I really don’t know what to do with 2.4k a month. If I end up making more after I’m on the market, I’d probably consider myself the richest person I know (mainly because my career would be focused around teaching and researching, both of which I absolutely love). The workload is of course tough, but super enriching and rewarding. I enjoy a good challenge.”
Research and teaching are labor.