Wages Too Low for Important Jobs : Mental Health Workers?

One would think the free Market will do a far better job of setting wage rates then government bureaucrat that always have their own agenda running that slues the results. That an effort is being made to do something about the mentally ill that roam around us in larger numbers then we want to believe, is defiantly a plus in trying to identify just who they are and how to stop them before they commit a crime.

I believe this isn't about wages, this is about actually doing something substantive to correct this huge problem of mental illness in our society. How many of these catastrophic crimes have been committed but little has been accomplished to stop them from reoccurring.

What is important here is not going over board in crating another monster program that does little to stem the problem but creates hundreds of government jobs that only administer the program but do little to actually help.

As we are all aware, little has been done since Sand Hook killings occurred nearly three years ago to identify who the mental ill are, where they live and try to correct or institutionalize them in some manner. As usual, it's just the perception of doing something seems to be enough for those that have the responsibility to make things happen. Following through is way to difficult and politically dangerous.

Important but Surprisingly Low-Paying Jobs
Source: Susan Adams, "Nine Surprisingly Low-Paying Jobs," Forbes, March 16, 2015.

March 18, 2015

Since Adam Lanza shot and killed 20 children and six adults at Sandy Hook Elementary School in December 2012, President Obama and other politicians have vowed to beef up care for the mentally ill.

 According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates Data, mental health counselors, which it defines as people who help those struggling with addiction, substance abuse, stress management and other problems, earn a median salary of just $43,700.

Here is the list of other surprisingly low-paying jobs:

• Firefighters, which have high-risk jobs, earn an average of only $45,600. 
• Emergency Medical Technicians and Paramedics bring home just $31,270.
• Preschool teachers boosts school readiness, especially for disadvantaged children, but only make an average of $27,570.
• Lifeguards, Ski Patrol and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers, whose efforts can mean the difference between life and death, earn just $19,040.
• Legislators, who do the important work of governing our states, average $20,620 in salaries.
• Radio and TV announcers, who have high-visibility and high-pressure pressure jobs bring home only $29,020.
• Marriage and family therapists, who try to keep families knitted together make just $48,160, on average.
• Telemarketers earn $22,610.
• Fast food workers take home $18,330.
• Maids make $19,780.

As the national debate continues about raising the federal minimum wage from $7.25 to $10.10, lawmakers could also be discussing how to stimulate higher pay for important jobs such as mental health counselors, firefighters, EMTs and pre-K teachers, whose jobs save and transform lives.