I'm so glad this post is at the top vs. the other "it seems fair to me" replies. I also find it illuminating to compare to three other careers that I consider

I'm so glad this post is at the top vs. the other "it seems fair to me" replies. I also find it illuminating to compare to three other careers that I consider intellectually similar to engineering in that they are not "management", and yet they capture way more of their value in their corporate zenith (or did at some point in time when their reputations as careers were made). - Lawyers: Lawyers aim to make partner. They become owners. None of this "engineers are afraid of risk" stuff. - Doctors: Doctors control supply. I have met many socially odd doctors, without "negotiation skills" or "business acumen", but they don't worry about their salary precisely because this "union-like" aspect to their profession. - Finance people: a.k.a "bankers". Most people have no better proxy for their "value" than what they agree on a job interview ("the value of your work is what people are willing to pay for it"). But "bankers" do know what their work is worth, outside of this exchange. And they know how much their peers are making, and are basically immune to the collective cluelessness that is "I don't need to know how much my peer and my boss make to be satisfied with my salary". Engineers? No union. Meek personality and culture plus cluelessness about labor economics means they are ecstatic making 200k even if their company is making 1M+ for their work. Some scattered thoughts here, but thank you for your post.