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I would love to see some studies done on this, but it is my strong suspicion that these kinds of choices are fairly common among the gifted, and the more highly gifted, the more commonly these choices. After all, the American social paradigm is money as a sign of success. And aren't the gifted paradigm breakers by nature?

I agree with this, but maybe my friends are just very self-selected. I also went a college that is selective (top 20) but whose graduates earn relatively low salaries due to making "hippie" life choices. It's a big issue for the endowment.

I know a LOT of highly intelligent people who have chosen not to maximize their earning potential for various reasons. My DH could make a lot more money were he to "sell out" his specialized skills, but he chooses not to because he couldn't live with himself if he did.