Fuchs,

As you are aware, mythologizing military service is often a right-wing form of political correctness. This is true to an extent in the United States, and certainly within the ranks, which is to be expected as most institutions have self-reinforcing norms.

JMA,

It's not true, at least in the United States, that people are paid in accordance to the risks they take on the job. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the 10 most dangerous jobs (by fatalities per 100,000) and their average hourly wages are:

1. Fishers ($13)
2. Loggers ($13)
3. Pilots
4. Iron and steel workers ($19)
5. Farmers/ranchers
6. Roofers ($16)
7. Electrical line workers ($22)
8. Drivers ($12)
9. Refuse collectors ($17)
10. Police officers

Firefighters and construction workers are in the top 15.