Unlimit the Limiter!
1)Apply the same Limits to Trade and Explore Jobs as are in effect for Combat Jobs.
Combat weak pilots are penalized for being "unbalanced" or accepting the lower level combat jobs while skilled fighters can do Trade and Explore jobs and get the full pay advertised at the terminal. Perhaps pilots would be less likely to be "unbalanced" or wait to max Trade/Explore with jobs and then let overflow level the Combat.
Or
2) Remove the experience rewarded information for jobs below a pilot's appropriate level. Then it would seem less like breech of contract.