Pay is just one aspect of job satisfaction. I personally do not like jobs where I need to be held responsible for the well-being of another human being, so I refuse be a teacher. Same for a nurse, a social worker etc.
That is true, but beyond a certain age and with family commitments, job stability can be much more important than job satisfaction and alot is in the mind. One can be in such jobs that are responsible for the well being of others but don't feel it or see it that way.
I have personally met a prison social worker and a teacher who told me this before: it is just a job! Forget those TV shows of social workers and teachers putting all their heart and soul and spare time worrying and following up on their charges, in reality, people put in what they are required to do during the hours: open, follow up and close cases for social worker and for teacher it is to teach the syllabus.
Anyway I find that usually people who talk tough are the people who are most soft-hearted and feel most for people. While people who talk and appear to be nice are usually the most hard hearted, evil and uncaring.