As someone who recently found out that the new grad hire that I was training was also making more than me, I really can't fathom myself giving any sort of sympa

As someone who recently found out that the new grad hire that I was training was also making more than me, I really can't fathom myself giving any sort of sympathetic shit about the employer's perspective. You are absolutely correct. Sickeningly so. I applaud the people that can game the system. Because it's not made to reward you. You are a cost center to someone else's wealth. You have good employers and bad employers, but either way your relationship isn't built on equivalent standing. You provide a paid service valued by your employer's benevolence towards your hard work and dedication, and its not in their best interest to reward you with a fair wage.