Earlier quoted context omitted.
The fact that different professions earn different amounts of money is, in fact, an indicator that the higher paying professions have a shortage of people able to perform the work. Working conditions and pay for programmers are incredible and would be a life changing improvement for most people. That the profession hasn’t been flooded with talent is a strong indicator that there isn’t enough talent out there.
Working conditions and pay are highly variable. Pay outside of a few major metro areas is not that great, and working uncompensated overtime is common in the industry.
Programming jobs are essentially universally better than food service or retail jobs. They're easier, they pay more, they're more prestigious.