A shaitel macher who makes $3,500 a month under the table is not better off than someone with a degree, she is worse off. She is spending her life stealing from the government, hardly something to be proud of. The fact that a given “therapy” person has not yet found full time work is hardly a statistical survey. Anecdotal evidence is worthless.
Go by the numbers and common sense. Degree bearers make more money in the long run, and it’s legal.