I'm going to try to be blunt here…A degree of any sort only helps opens doors. What you do with those doors is completely up to you. With a math phd (and if your good at what you do), you could easily be working on wall street. But again, what you choose and how you apply it is is completely up to you. Unfortunately, you are going though what many PHD constituents have gone through. You're seeing the disparity between acadamia and the private sector(s).
If you want to stay in acadamia, I respect that (I couldn't). But you can't pursue what you want and then complain about if it doesn't pay you enough. If money really mattered more to you than acadamia, then you would motivate to do something about it, possibly giving up being a professor and pursue something else.
While I have always said that I felt having a good education is important for your future, it by no means is the end-all be-all of financial nirvana. You can't hide behind your degree and expect to be compensated just because you're addressed Dr.
I admire those that choose to teach, or those that choose to serve in the public sector. Because I couldn't do it. But I can't really sympathize with those that do this and then aren't happy with the decision. Because you know this is how the public sector has worked in america and it's not going to change.
