<prompt> Human: Im an experienced professional in my field with 15 years experience. Four years ago, I went from exclusively freelancing to a full-time job with a growing company, doing the same type of work. I am a standout in my field; some of the projects I work on either for the company I work for, or when I have time to freelance are extremely highly visible in said field, and I routinely turn up mentioned in trade mags for my work. I have managed endorsement deals with some product lines used in the business, and have two field-related books published as in, by a real publisher who puts them in stores. Clearly Im not a hack, and work very, very hard.The problem with my job is that I have allowed myself to be paid well under market value for my skills for way too long. I entered at a freelance rate that was well below what I would normally ask, but as it was the end of a very sad downward slump in the industry, I didnt complain but noted that I would need a raise to a more reasonable level whenever feasible.Four years have gone by. I have made less money each year I have worked here, if only by 1-2K each year; our pay is structured as hourly in the office, and day rate in the field. The in-field days routinely last 12 hours with no overtime paid regardless of how long or complicated the day is, and so this has created the illusion of working harder while being paid less. Were told this is because slowereasier days offset the crazy ones but still feels very unfair.We are allowed to freelance in our limited time, if we wish to. I made approximately 50 of what I made at my full-time job in a few freelance jobs. Clearly I should just be freelancing, screw loyalty.I have had an audience with the owner of the company and have asked for a raise multiple times. I have been told to wait, and that Im very valuable and they want me to stick around, that it would be coming. I have never seen a raise. Today, I found out that an interns day rate is only 25 less than mine. This is excruciatingly hard to hear that a difference of 25 separates me, with experience, and an intern with none. Multiple times myself and others have asked for raises from management; weve stood up to unfair days where our day rates start to equal minimum wage or below 5am to 3am for less than 10hr before taxes, for example; some projects are more reasonable timeframes but a 10 hour-based day rate routinely covers 12 hours of work, and occasionally get some extra pay, but its never in the form of a long-term raise. We are always told something big is coming; just wait, well figure it out; but its been four years, and when things get heated Im told that this is the gig and to take it or leave it. If I point out how behind the curve we are industry-wide, I get talked down to and made to feel like Im not a team player. Now, the company is instituting a review process to determine compensation increases, but the whole process has felt very piecemeal and unorganized; we dont know who will do reviews or anything other than a self-eval questionnaire that was sent around. Im torn between hitting the eject button and working harder to demand more for myself. Advice?Assistant: They are taking advantage of you. You are letting them do that.Why would they want to change that?Human: This certainly feels correct. In times Ive spoken up to talk about how underpaid we are on a national scale, Im reminded that 1 were a growing company 30 years of growth this year, 2 the local market simply doesnt support paying staff like other markets do, and staff are required to wear more hats for less money to be a team player which seems noticeably absent at other companies around the globe for people working at my level; and 3 nobody seems to ever have the balls to do anything about this because the company is the biggest game in the town and one of the key players in the region, so theres a sense that this is it for most people and even if its not optimal, its the best game in town.  <response>: Youre only worth what someone will pay you.Youd have to know your other options to see what that is. 