Florida Waitress with Master's Degree Makes More Money Serving Than Teaching

A Florida waitress with a master's degree in education says she can't afford to work in her field and makes more money as a server
Teacher salaries average $61,250 per year, but that's not enough for her to cover high rents in Florida
Servers make less per year but earn tips that let them take home $50,000+ tax-free
A master's degree comes with over $50k in debt that takes years to pay off, delaying savings
Advanced degrees don't guarantee higher pay, so graduates should weigh costs vs expected salary boosts