8 highly-respectable jobs that pay much less than people think

• Many respected jobs come with a high paycheck, but salaries in some fields may surprise you.
• Astronauts and therapists go through a lot of training but starting salaries don't crack six figures.
• Other jobs in medicine like EMTs may include saving lives, but the pay is only about $20 an hour.

Some professions instantly bring dollar signs to mind. If you enter a field like medicine or law, it's safe to assume you're setting yourself up to earn a decent living.

Then there are jobs we expect would bring in a significant income mainly because of their prestige, the advanced level of training required, or the rigorous on-the-job demands.

Insider compiled a list of several of those occupations along with their requirements and uncovered the actual salaries associated with these positions.

Here are eight jobs that come with a much lower salary than you might expect.

1. Astronaut

While this line of work might shoot you to the stars, its wages are firmly planted here on earth.

NASA says the annual salary for a civilian astronaut (as opposed to an astronaut employed by the military) is based on the federal government's General Schedule pay scale for grade GS-12 and GS-13 employees, whose annual salaries start at $71,099 and $84,546, respectively. Pay is based on both academic achievement and experience.

The competition still remains steep. In 2016, NASA's Astronaut Selection Board reported receiving a record-breaking 18,300 applications for 15 spots for the class of 2017, making it at least 74 times harder to get into than Harvard.

Candidates must be US citizens and have an advanced degree in a STEM field from an accredited institution, along with a minimum of two years of post-degree-related professional experience. They must also meet a series of rigorous requirements, including passing NASA's long-duration-flight astronaut physical.

2. Federal air marshal

These highly trained law-enforcement professionals learn the basics of flying a plane and how to shoot with deadly accuracy in tight quarters. They're responsible for the safety of passengers and crew during security threats on commercial airline flights. They work under an agency of the Transportation Security Administration, led by the US Department of Homeland Security.

This line of work, often popularized by Hollywood in movies like Liam Neeson's "Non-Stop," can be both mentally and physically exhausting. According to the TSA, sky marshals fly about half of each month, totaling about 181 days a year, and they log about 900 hours a year in the air.

Compensation is based upon the TSA's SV grading system with the Career Level 1, Pay Band G annual salary starting at $39,358 and topping out at $60,982.

In addition to being a US Citizen between the ages of 21 and 36, an applicant needs a bachelor's degree or three years of experience reflecting a progression of responsibility. Candidates must also pass a background check, a writing and logic-based exam, a psychological assessment, and a panel interview.

3. Legislator

State legislators work to develop, introduce, and enact statutes on behalf of their constituents, but when it comes to these elected officials, the buck often stops short of a high-paying salary.

Legislatures are divided into three different categories: full-time, part-time, and hybrid positions.

According to the National Conference of State Legislatures' annual survey, 2022 base salaries run the gamut, with Texas ranking the lowest at $7,200 a year for a hybrid position.

At $50,400 a year, full-time legislators in Alaska earn the least, followed by Wisconsin at $55,141. California holds the No. 1 spot for legislator pay at $119,702 a year.

4. Embalmer

Embalmers are responsible for preparing bodies for viewings, funeral services, burials, and cremations to conform with state and federal health and safety regulations. They must be able to maintain their composure and stamina in stressful environments and potentially triggering situations, including death by suicide or murder or the death of children.

The role may require individuals to be on call and available at a moment's notice as well as to work nontraditional hours, weekends, and holidays.

Considering those factors, you might think embalmers earn a pretty good living, but according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average salary for an embalmer in 2022 was $54,120, or about $26 an hour.

The minimum requirements for this job include an associate's degree in mortuary science, an apprenticeship under the direction of a licensed funeral director, and a state license.

5. Rehabilitation counselor

Counselors in this field work with individuals with physical, intellectual, developmental, or emotional disabilities by helping them build upon their strengths and adjust to their limitations so they can live and work independently.

In partnership with a series of other professionals, rehab counselors monitor and support their clients' progress through a series of evaluations, treatment plans, career training, and services to help them throughout their lives.

Counselors often work with diverse groups including senior citizens, people with substance-use disorders or learning disabilities, war veterans, and at-risk young people.

Most employers require candidates for a position like this to hold a master's degree. The US Department of Education estimates the average cost of a master's degree is over $30,000 a year, but the median annual salary for rehab counselors is just $46,020, which breaks down to $22.13 an hour.

6. Marriage and family therapist

These practitioners are responsible for diagnosing and treating both mental and emotional disorders, whether they're cognitive, affective, or behavioral, within the context of both marital and familial systems, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Employment and Wages Handbook.

A master's degree in psychology, marriage and family therapy, or another mental-health field is a common requirement for this position. Additionally, all states require therapists to be licensed, and to get a license, you need a master's degree and 2,000 to 4,000 hours of post-degree supervised clinical work, which typically falls under a residency or internship. Candidates must also pass a state exam and take annual continuing-ed courses.

As of 2022, the median annual salary for such a position was $63,300, which breaks down to $30.44 an hour.

7 and 8. Emergency medical technician and paramedic

From administering basic first aid to assisting with routine medical transports to performing lifesaving support, these first responders serve as a critical link between the scene of an emergency and a healthcare facility, maintaining order and calm in stressful, often life-or-death, situations.

EMTs earn a median annual salary of $40,120, which comes to $19.29 an hour, while paramedics earn about $53,560 a year, or $25.75 an hour, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics.

To become certified as an EMT, you must undergo about 150 to 200 hours of intensive training. Paramedic training is more advanced, which allows them to do things like insert IV lines and administer drugs to patients, requiring roughly 1,200 to 1,800 hours of instruction for certification.