Doctor or footballer - who should earn more, and other examples please?

Hi Wolfie, firstly thank you for inspiring this topic, credit where credit is due I believe. For other respondees I think it worth clarifying that Wolfie is a UK resident where doctors don't earn much in the scheme of things, as opposed to some countries where they may receive much larger amounts, which highlight the absurdity of the wage disparity. I agree that it's all the wrong way round and footballers are celebritised and expect earnings our of all proportion to what they actually do, whearas it could also be argued that their dominance in the sports arena could influence sales of related items thus boosting the overall economy, I would say off hand they help to increase the sale of alcholol, train tickets, apparently sales of toilet rolls, and other such items. I think that the doctors you highlight in war torn countries for example are doing it for the vocation rather than the pay, but should be adequately rewarded for doing so.

i agree 100 percent doctors r better

Hello Karen, whilst no one has managed to convince me that these ridiculous football salaries are justified in any way the business aspect of them influencing the businesses which generate money obviously plays a large part. It appears that most of the players money will be frittered away though like that of lottery winners. The vocational professions are not valued in monetary terms as they do not generate income for another group. It does indeed seem an astounding inequity.

I completely agree, Thea!

Hello finidinwa, from your answer I would take you to be a medical student so if I'm right good luck in your studies. It seems that there are two levels of earnings for doctors, those who pamper to the rich and famous and those who just go about their business saving lives and healing. I would presume the more vocational aspect of the latter is more fulfilling than the money but indeed the inequity prevails between really needed jobs and those more in the luxury/entertainment section.

Hi stvasile, you must have missed that discussion before, we also have brown envelopes for docs here, that is bribery. I've no idea if judges are up to it here as well but most other officials are so probably. You are right of course that a doc should earn a suitable income so that his focus is not fixed on monetary gain, but the practice which our two countries are aware of were not known of in other countries when I raised the issue earlier, in fact the US respondees seemed particularly abhorred by the practice.

Our kids tend to have a LOT to learn when they enter school because of so much turmoil at home.

Hi CraftyCorner, I agree with you there, our teachers are particularly badly paid which is why they get away with going on strike so often, I believe it's less than 12,000 euros which is a bit difficult to do more than survive on. Luckily our teachers here don't need to teach manners as the children have them already when they start school but they maintain great respect and affection with the children and in many cases inspire.

Hi fortunata, lovely name by the way. Well you are the tenth respondee and no one has disagreed yet with you. It seems that other professions indeed are more highly valued, just not in monetary terms. Sports figures along with other celebrity types are feeding a chain of money as one of the responders above said whilst the likes of doctors are only valued by patients with no influence perhaps on this money chain.

that is so true

Got a bit distracted there Andrew, just discovered a most unwelcome intruder on page one, I'm not saying people need an invite but some people really don't get the point and I could quite happily live without a godsquad follower. Apologies I digress. The concensus here appears to definitely be that these footballers are paid out of proportion to what they do. When my son started playing in the local childrens team I had to complete a nightmare amount of paperwork and the reason given was that if he ever became a famous and rich footballer whoever he signed up with would be obliged to hand over a big wad of cash to the first team that trained him, so even the under tens are already looked at as nothing more than future earnings. I think others feed off the celebrity of footballers to a ridiculous extent and you are quite right to say that doctors deserve higher salaries than footballers

Hi sblossom, you are actually the first person to bring the bankers into the discussion and many of the top bankers continue to draw huge salaries even when their own shareholders are losing money, they simply take no accountability at all for their mistakes or lack of judgement and continue to earn enormous packages. I also don't think a footballers career could be considered dangerous in comparison to the farmers you mention who oftentimes have to deal with the elements and dangerous tools.whilst unable to carry the same level of insurance as a footballer.

Hello Sandra, an excellent and concise response I must say and you have highlighted other areas of ridiculous wage disparity. Firefighters are indeed underpaid in comparison to mindless boy bands and the former more likely to need the services of the doctors as their profession is probably one of the most dangerous while boy bands can at least supply themselves with bodyguards to fight off the threat of young girls which would appear to be their main danger. Certainly the issue of the training these professionals put in,her more frequently self funded these days, makes the wages of the non professionals you mention rather obscene. And the latter whilst chasing the fast buck and fame are indeed often incapable of seeing how they are themselves being exploited for someone elses gain.

Hi picjim, another excellent example of a profession being undervalued in pay in comparison to something less important. A good teacher inspires students to excell and to develop individuality in thinking, which in turn leads to other careers of great value. A sportsperson is for today but the work of scientists and engineers can be appreciated for generations due to their contributions.

Hi ic3, are you serious, people in America pay $5000 dollars to watch a game, that can't be possible surely, I thought the people that had that kind of money to do anything with were the sort who would get free boxes or seats to most entertainment anyway. Well if they are paying all that for entertainment why are they always complaining about high dr's bills?