If I had answered this question 15 years ago, my reply would have been different. I think age plays a lot into people's perception of their job. Priorities change. The ability to have hours that coincide with my wife so we can carpool and make it to our daughter's events is worth more than an extra grand or two to me.
Some people fall into great jobs right away (you know who you are and you suck). The rest of us have taken our lumps, changed jobs to something better, chosen to make the best of a situation, or some combination of all three.
Time is a good teacher when it comes to careers.