There’s an elephant in the hiring room, and it’s time someone talked about it. Every day, bright and hardworking people scan job listings, only to be met with an all-too-familiar slap in the face: “Bachelor’s or Master’s Degree Required. Pay: $15/hour.”
Let’s pause for a moment and ask—what message are you really sending?
Degrees Are Not Dollar Store Commodities
Education has always been a path to better opportunities, stability, and a brighter future. People invest years, tens of thousands of dollars, and a mountain of effort to earn a college degree. Many leave school with student loan bills that rival a home mortgage.
When you post a job demanding those credentials but offer pay that barely covers groceries, it doesn’t just come across as tone-deaf—it’s demoralizing. You’re telling the very talent you want: “Your investment in yourself means little to us.”
To quote one brave candidate:
“If you want to pay peanuts, you should also be prepared to work with monkeys.”
And you know what? They walked out—and who could blame them?
The People Have Spoken: Here’s What They’re Saying
From recent conversations online, here’s what real people—your potential hires—are saying:
- “That’s high school student money.”
- “They want degrees and five years’ experience for $15/hour.”
- “A cashier at Publix in Miami now makes $19/hr.”
- “Stop asking for a person with a car when you’re paying $15, plus part-time hours.”
- “McDonald’s pays more than that. So does Costco.”
- “It’s a clown show—high expectations, low pay.”
- “Student loans for a $25/hour job? LMAO.”
- “I didn’t go to college for five years to get paid less than a kitchen worker.”
- “A librarian job wanted a master’s degree—for $16 an hour!”
- “Entry level + two years’ experience, for $15? Good luck.”
- “Why would a paralegal with years of experience apply for less than they make as a legal assistant?”
- “Most degrees today aren’t worth the paper they’re printed on—if this is the return.”
These aren’t isolated complaints—they’re a groundswell of frustration from every corner of the workforce. College grads are training baristas, experienced paralegals are skipping legal jobs, and tradespeople are making far more than their degreed friends.
It’s Not Just About the Money (But It’s Also About the Money)
When you require a degree for a wage that won’t cover rent, you’re not just missing out on talent—you’re eroding trust and credibility as an employer. The best and brightest see right through it, and they walk away.
Let’s be real: If you want a candidate with a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree, pay them a wage that respects the journey they’ve taken. If you can’t afford that, reconsider your requirements. Look for potential, work ethic, teachable skills—not just a piece of paper.
Entry-Level Shouldn’t Mean Entry-Pay Forever
It’s also time to end the game of “entry-level” positions that demand years of experience and advanced degrees. If you’re not offering a clear path to growth, a living wage, or even respect for basic life costs, why would anyone invest in you as an employer?
Today, high schoolers make $17/hour at fast food joints. That’s the new baseline. Anything less for a college grad is a hard pass.
What’s Next? A PhD to Work the Fryer?
If this sounds dramatic, consider: job ads for restaurant workers or cleaners are starting to require degrees. It’s only a matter of time before a doctorate is needed to operate a cash register or pick strawberries.
What You Can Do—Right Now
- Re-examine your job requirements. Is a degree truly necessary, or can you train a motivated worker?
- Match wages to qualifications. If you want the best, pay for the best.
- Offer real growth. Employees want careers, not dead ends.
- Value skills, not just paper. Sometimes experience, creativity, and hustle outshine formal education.
Dear Employers:
If you’re not willing to pay a living wage, don’t require a degree. If you want degree-holders, be ready to compete for them. Otherwise, you’ll keep losing great talent to companies that do.
It’s time to wake up. The world—and the workforce—have changed.
Looking for honest conversations and more real-world career insights? Check out TheHypothyroidismChick.com and explore books by A.L. Childers—because your journey, and your worth, matter.
