One thing to consider...is a plastic surgeon in Beverly Hills really 500-1,000 times more productive than an elementary school teacher? Is that plastic surgeon more productive than a farmer who grows enough food to feed 10,000 people? Using income as the only measure of productivity seems a bit myopic.
The only vocation in America which is absolutely essential is farming. Without doctors, we'd suffer a 1-5 year loss in longevity, without farmers we'd suffer a 90+% population decline in a matter of 2-3 years. Are farmers more productive than doctors? Not according to income statistics.
Something is worth what someone else will pay for it. Perhaps your problem is with the people who consume the products or services. They seem to put a higher value on plastic surgury than elementary education.