Pay and work are not directly related. Each is subject to market forces. If every random person down the street can do your job as well as you, your boss can demand more from you, because you are easily replaceable. And you’ll have to do it, because you are easily replaceable. But if you can do something financially valuable, and you can do it better than anyone else, then you can negotiate working conditions and pay to better suit you.
Say I wash cars for a living, with a bucket and sponge. Well nearly everyone can do that, so I’m probably going to earn minimum wage. But say I’m a car detailer, who can make a car look like it has just driven off a motor show stand. Then I can charge a whole lot more, because there are less people on my level, so my services are in higher demand.