> But they are not accurate or meaningful ways of measuring someones actual worth. For that we have money.
Prices in an efficient market (which the labor market is not, but that's another discussion entirely) are determined by marginal cost and marginal utility, not value. The value I get out of having as much water as I do is enormous, but I'm basically indifferent as to whether I get even more water than that, and so water is cheap.
The upper limit of the price is the value you derive. The upper limit of a bankers wage is very high. The upper limit for a teacher less so. Hence price is not value as you correctly say. But it does tell you something about value. At least the free market sense of value.
Prices in an efficient market (which the labor market is not, but that's another discussion entirely) are determined by marginal cost and marginal utility, not value. The value I get out of having as much water as I do is enormous, but I'm basically indifferent as to whether I get even more water than that, and so water is cheap.