There are certainly higher levels of meaning than monetary value. The issue the OP is raising is that many jobs don't even hit that lower bar.
From the perspective of 'creating something people want', a car does belong in that category, and a lawyer doesn't, but there will for sure be some grey areas.
Not all lawyers are bad. I've seen good ones doing good things in courts and telling people frankly what it will cost and what the chances are. And this one particular lawyer cost only 0.2X of his stated first round cost, because other side resigned after first letter. Now there won't be smelly/noisy food factory just right outside my apartment building windows.
What I'm getting at:
> I.e. is the total value of the world higher when you finish your work, or is it not?
TOTAL level of value in world is only correlated with meaning of job. But, there are many jobs which feel meaningful, but have negative effect on world.
Nothing to do with being good or bad. The work they do doesn't add value. It might even be necessary work so that markets can function, but it doesn't add value.
From the perspective of 'creating something people want', a car does belong in that category, and a lawyer doesn't, but there will for sure be some grey areas.