Who decides what YOU are worth, though? If I'm the boss, I decide what I'm worth at the expense of my other workers. So, for example when I was a waiter/server at a restaurant, I was making 2.83/hr and 7.25 when I cooked one day a week. The turnover rate was high, and in a matter of a year I was one of the most seasoned veterans on staff and on management track. The problem was that managers only made 8.50 an hour. The entire business was family run at the top level, though, where the lowest paid salary was over $100k. This family did very little to add to the company, they did no ground level work, and ultimately were just leeching off of the workers and store managers.
Then I found a job at Denny's Beer Barrel & Pub, and I started out making 8.50 an hour plus about an additional 2.50 an hour in tips as a line cook (11/hour). Within a month, I was up to 12 an hour, and six months later was at 12.75/hour. That translates to something around 27k a year, which is honestly a living wage where I live. The thing was, my manager made 16 an hour, and my owners (Father and son), only made about 50k each per year. These guys built a hugely successful restaurant on the principle that giving a damn about your employees would make a better restaurant, and it translated in having workers stay there for years and years. Ultimately, I had to leave when I found out my wife was pregnant and completely lucked into getting the job as a conductor at the railroad.
Now, who was worth more, the cook at the first restaurant or Denny's? The truth is, both companies saw similar revenues based on the number of employees they had. But, one company valued the owners more and the second less so. The difference was who cared more, and having a heart led to a much better restaurant that is one of the most famous private restaurants in the country and arguably the best burger joint on the east coast.