Is there a reason why soldiers aren't paid how they deserve to be?

Unfortunately, it is the result of a number of factors ranging from the origins of military levies to modern economics. Soldiers and service members in general (there are exceptions, e.g. SOF, etc...), are easier to find, train and replace p, and far more numerous. We rank in the millions, whereas professional athletes et al, represent an extremely small population and as a rare commodity command a relatively high price (salary) for their labor vice that of a soldier, sailor, etc...
Bottom line: Life ain't fair.

Pro ball players are paid that much because people are still willing to part with their money. I stopped supporting or watching ALL professional sports about 4 years ago. I refuse to give ANY of my hard earned money to a bunch of overpaid crybabies who play a GAME!!!

I think this issue speaks volumes on what the values of America really are. For everyone who think we get paid well compared to when you came is, is an asinine statement! Cost of living etc have changed also. Ok Congress salaries are determined by Congress, funded by tax payers, and are a minimum of six figures annually. People can argue all day that they get paid for the job they do and without this pay incentive there would be few Congressman. The military is paid by the government, in which tax payers pay, the military also pay taxes, the military help pay they're on salaries. Yet have no say in the pay. It is argued that we do it for our country. The same thing can be argued that Congress can do it for the country and get paid the same equivalent salaries as all military members. If Congress oppose this idea, then something is clearly wrong with the values and interest of America in which the military protects. How can two public service entities have a pay gap that enormous with the same source paying their salaries? Yet the tax payers have no say so on any of it, except for voting and we know how that works here.

Pro ball players are always hounded and surrounded by a team of money hungry management teams and they thrive on giving the maximum just to take a bigger piece of it. Soldiers have no nobody but themselves and superiors who were once in their shoes. we get selected for the most part out of a class when we are within the poverty line. Theres no room for income and wealth equality for us simply because we will be too powerful. we have to be controlled in a way to just know the bare minimum and expect and accept any dilemma that comes our way.

Some areas of the country have a higher average salary than others. LA, NYC, NJ, etc. have much higher compensation averages, but the cost of living is also MUCH higher. In the areas where the military generally has installations, the cost of living is pretty low. Fayetteville, for example, has a very low cost of living, and thus has a low average pay.
In the military, your dollar can be stretched pretty far.
If you live within your means, you can do pretty well. I dont know of many industries that allow someone to start at an entry-level position, and then make in the 60k range in approx 6-8 years.
Junior NCO's make roughly this in total compensation with about 6 years in service.
Total compensation includes intangibles that 1SG (Join to see) pointed out. Such as no-cost insurance, educational benefits, tax-free housing and food allowances, etc.

They knew that before they joined

SGT McBride,
I see your mistake. You need to remember that you are a volunteer.
We call our occupation Military Service - a volunteer position that very few in this country apply for or are accepted to. The fact that it comes with training, room, board, medical care, and a bit of pen money is considered sufficient. If you remain a volunteer for long enough, you will also receive other gifts for your service, but know that these things come and go and change without notice.
The position calls for volunteers who are willing to be held to higher standards than the rest of the population and submit themselves to more rigorous discipline and extra more stringent rules of conduct while conducting the country's business when ever, how ever and where ever you are called to do it. You can also chose to accept as compensation your success in exemplifying ideals and virtues such as courage, honor, patriotism and service, rather than market driven career prestige and wealth.

Would I love to have earned more? Sure. But when I enlisted, I knew what we were getting paid. There were no surprises.

SGT(P) Daniel McBride Seeing as I got $78 a month when I enlisted , you guys aren't doing badly

Unlike the civilian sector. Public jobs, including the military, do not generate revenue. We don't make money, we cost money. High paid athletes, or highly paid executives generate money for the organization, so they are paid more. When they fail to perform, they lose their jobs or take pay cuts.

In the public sector, we traditionally don't get paid for performance. In the Military, we get paid by rank, not our job, nor our performance. A lackluster soldier will make the same as a top notch troop.

It's just the way it is.