Why is it that a career requiring advanced knowledge in so many areas is paid at such a meager rate? What's worse, more often that not we have no 401k, no life insurance, no medical or dental. Hello??? What's wrong with this picture??

I figured out today that when I finally do get up to 200-250 lph, I will still never make more than approximately 35k per year. Of course, you have to factor in the cost I will have to fork out monthly for medical and dental, 401k, etc. Does anyone else see this as absolutely NUTS??

All I can imagine is that the majority of you are supplementing your spouse's income.

I've been visiting these boards and posting occasionally for the past several months. It is completely obvious that you all are very articulate and intelligent AND UNDERPAID!

My basically brainless (and boring) job that I quit to pursue MT paid me $47k per year, PLUS medical, dental, life, 401k and many perks. I will never attain that financial level with MT. In the meantime, I may develop carpal tunnel, miscellaneous aches and pains, etc.

I LOVE doing this - I truly do! Knowing that I will never make enough money though has convinced me that MT can never be more than a part-time venture for me to supplement income from a "real" job that I will begin pursuing this week.

Shame on me for not doing better research as far as pay and what kind of hours would be required to make even barely adequate pay -- certainly not even enough to support myself on. I suppose I was seeing it with rose-colored glasses. I couldn't imagine why I couldn't make a decent living doing MT. After all, I love doing this and, even as a newbie, I'm fairly sharp and a good sleuth. I love everything about it EXCEPT the pay.

I guess the consolation for me is knowing that I can at least use it to supplement my income. How very upsetting!

Whew, time for a drink!

Please pardon typos or grammatical errors. Fair warning: I did not proof.