Your salary doesn't reflect your value as a person. Lots of highly-paid people are exhausted, miserable, unable to save, etc. Past a certain point, more money isn't more happiness.
Remember also that salary often reflects luck, willingness to be unethical, and many other qualities that have nothing to do with your worth.
Remember also that salary often reflects luck, willingness to be unethical, and many other qualities that have nothing to do with your worth.
Unethical is a strong word, when employers have had the upper hand for way to long. How many times have you heard "$X is the highest we can go for this position" or "the maximum budget is $Y" only to find out a coworker makes more than $X or $Y? Ever heard that "company policy limits raises to 5%" and then find out someone got 10%?
I have made a science of strongarming raises out of my employers (threatening to quit, using counteroffers as leverage), switching jobs often, and stretching the truth with salary history. For example, when I made $80k with a 20% bonus (I had a good shot of getting it) I reported my "total compensation" as $96k when I interviewed. The next job offered $110k to convince me to sign. It's no more unethical than the old "max budget" line companies give.
I refuse to work in adtech (including Facebook and Google), military, or MLM schemes. I don't think everyone who does those things is unethical, but I won't even work for a company whose products I think are bad for their users/customers.
Because of that, I'm giving up on multiple high-paying opportunities every year. Is my overall income lower as a result? Maybe, maybe not. But it can't be helping me, financially speaking.
Remember also that salary often reflects luck, willingness to be unethical, and many other qualities that have nothing to do with your worth.