How does the lack of ability to move up in pay or position bring emotional challenges to low wage jobs?

In the United States, at least, a great deal of people's
self-esteem tends to be caught up in their ability to feel that they are successful. 
Success tends to be defined in terms of money and work status.  Because of this, the
lack of ability to move up in pay or work status might well constitute an emotional
challenge to people in low wage jobs.

A person in a low
wage job has very little ability to move ahead in ways that would give them more
prestige in society.  Therefore, they have to resign themselves to the idea that other
people in society might see them as underachievers.  This is likely to be an emotional
challenge.

Since our self-esteem is often linked to our
status in society, and because our status is often linked to our wages and our job
status, low wage jobs can be a source of emotional challenges.