I have found the same thing. I recently became a freelance graphic designer and I am finding that you simply have to eat shit for awhile until you somehow figure out how to rise up the value chain.

A lot of the issues to me stem from clients not really appreciating what you are doing. There is a perception that simply having a copy of Photoshop is enough for the magic to suddenly come spilling out.

What compounds this problem is the internet has completely devalued the market as any clown with a pirated copy of Adobe CC can get straight to work designing third rate crap at their leisure. I think there is a way out with patience and a plan. I will let you know how mine goes!!!!