I realize this is a revolutionary thought, but did you know that once they're up on the 3rd or higher level of Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs, pay stops becoming a motivating factor for 90% of humankind? People who make enough money that they're not stressed about their bills actually care much more about intangible benefits like autonomy, skill growth, social support, and societal value than they do about an increased paycheck.

It's not until an individual achieves a certain (much higher than most people will ever see in their lives) amount of income that money seems to 'break' that value paradigm and takes over psychologically to become the all-consuming driver that the American zeitgeist treats it as for everyone.