I’m earning more than $125k as a Machine Learning Engineer and have never worked a non-desk job. My wife is and has always worked in hospitality (restaurants) and our jobs are as different as night and day, and it’s just unfair. She’s always on her feet, gets paid by the hour, has to deal with crappy uncaring employees and has to do it all with a smile on her face.
My employers aren’t perfect but they’re patient with me if I’m unwell, they’re flexible with my work hours and location and ALWAYS talk to me with some level of respect, even if they’re much more senior. And most of my job is just low intensity sitting staring at a computer screen wondering why something isn’t working (in between browsing Reddit of course).
I’m ranting but I just can’t shake the feeling that this whole system is unfair.