That's roughly first year school teacher income level, or parish priest stipend level. I think Tarn was a grad student before he got his doctorate, and $2500 w

That's roughly first year school teacher income level, or parish priest stipend level. I think Tarn was a grad student before he got his doctorate, and $2500 would not be a pay cut; assuming that grad students loved their field at least once upon a time. Per capita median personal income in the USA is right around that level, so 50% of the population earns less, while being statistically unlikely to love their job. If half the country hates their lower paying job, they have little to complain about in a relative sense.