Let me introduce a simple economic concept. We each have different skills and training, so each aircraft engineer is unique to some extent. What each of us is worth (to ourselves) is the value of the next best alternative. Given your present qualifications, how much can you earn at the next best job you are qualified for?
If find you are worth more doing something else, then switch jobs. If you want more than the industry pays for your existing skills, think about studying for an extra or completely different qualification that enhances your value. In the late seventies, BA lost a lot of engineers to the local Mars Bar factory where their skills were worth more to Mars than they were to BA.
The pay we get is just what the employers find they have to pay to get exactly the right number of people to keep the aircraft moving and, this is the important part, not a single penny more. People are leaving the industry in ever increasing numbers. As employers find they cannot retain enough people to keep their aircraft moving they have two alternatives, pay more or lower the standards. So far the second choice has been favourite. When they can't get or keep the right people, they take what they can get. Have you checked out your subordinates lately? More facial hair and more prominent eyebrow ridges than usual? Exactly! It may be time to move on. If you choose to stay, don't sign for their work without checking it out thoroughly. Takes too long? Late departure (throws hands in air in horror) Tough! Unless we insist on standards, as our aircrew colleagues do, we have only ourselves to blame. Unfortunately a "Can-Do" attitude is needed for our job and we are psychologically incapable of saying "No" or "Sorry, No can-do chief" Its a macho thing, its in the genes and we can't help ourselves. Thats why we are engineers...
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Through difficulties to the cinema