I started more than 50 years ago. I could have got a job with ATT&T as a mathematician-trainee for 20% more than I got as a starting high school teacher. A starting salary in that district where I started—pretty high paying for Texas—is no more —adjusting for inflation—more than that trainee job. Of course, taxes were lower then. No sales tax even. But no health insurance. In fact until I went to work for the federal government when I was about 30, I had no health insurance, except for one year. Luckily was as healthy as a horse.
Then one day the principal made a comment, "We're an impacted district, you are hereby draft exempt".
Well being of part Irish ancestry, I took that as an insult - started Basic Training at Fort Ord, 10 days later.