Fifty grand used to signal real success. That's gone now. You're just scraping by—and here's the kicker: employers demand a degree for positions that barely keep you above the poverty line. So the equation becomes twisted: get educated to qualify for jobs that don't pay enough to justify the education costs. Welcome to the modern wage trap. The inflation ate everything. Salaries stayed flat. Credentials became mandatory just to compete for positions that can't actually support you. It's a rigged game where entry costs keep climbing while earning potential stagnates. That's why so many are looking elsewhere for real wealth building.