The argument that PhDs should earn more because their education costed more is faulty. Salary is a price, you see. It is governed by laws of economics, supply and demand. Scientists should not earn more, because their value is unknown. Why would anyone pay $200,000 to someone who "might" create an amazing paper? Whereas those in investment banking earn much more than that because they provide much greater value to the employer. One should be pragmatic about life and not feel entitled just because they incurred high costs.
We use a wide array of indicators and rank freelancers according to their Behance, Dribbble, Github, and other portfolios. Then we will admit those with the highest scores. Although we understand that those are not the only top freelancers, but those are the ones with verifiable track records.