It hurts a little to hear the truth sometimes, but that doesn't mean it's less true - in this case, your statement that the lowest level of payment is being a salaried employee, and that we're also mostly there at the company to bring them more money than it costs to hire us. As you say, it's how the system is set up.

That said, salaried employees probably don't have to spend as much time as say specialists on the details of getting paid that aren't necessarily directly related to actual work. Specialists get more money for their time but at the same time must also spend more time getting that money, or so my impression goes.

The ultimate dream scenario (as far as money goes) is to be an investor, where money makes money. You're too right in that hard work by itself has diminishing returns, have to work hard in the areas that have the most returns. I've heard that investors have crazy schedules and have high pressure jobs, but they also have insane bonuses while having questionable value to society at times...

I thought about mentioning that it would be valuable for schools to teach this as well, but then I realized - wait, schools are part of the system! They want to continue the status quo, encourage that most people join the ranks of the salaried! I don't necessarily mean to demean the schools, in many cases a salaried position is most appropriate (for example, it scales much more or maybe I've also been brainwashed into thinking that) but I guess a level of independent learning on top of going to school is needed to realize the things you mention.