< (you have to be bottom half of the class to make less than that!) That is a poorly worded comment. Someone can be really good but for whatever reason choose

< (you have to be bottom half of the class to make less than that!) That is a poorly worded comment. Someone can be really good but for whatever reason choose something that pays less or didn't get a great luck of the draw. To draw an absolute comparison between academic performance and salary for a whole class is laughable.