sf wrote in rec.food.cooking:

> On Thu, 31 Dec 2015 09:22:15 -0500, Gary > wrote:
>
> > Dave Smith wrote:
> > >
> > > On 2015-12-30 22:29, Ed Pawlowski wrote:
> > > >
> > > > I often contract or buy services of labor. I can get unskilled
> > > > temp workers for $13 but skilled workers range from $60 to $110
> > > > per hour plus travel time.
> > > >
> > > > I know people that think they are worth $20 to $50 salary but
> > > > don't want to pay more than minimum wage if they hire anyone to
> > > > work for them.
> > >
> > > We hired a local handyman to to do some work on our kitchen last
> > > year. He had to do some repairs to the ceiling and then prime
> > > and paint it, and he did some carpentry work and replaced some
> > > ceramic tiles. He worked from 9-4:30 and charged $125 per day.
> > > He did excellent work. I will gladly hire him again and have no
> > > problems recommending him to friends.
> >
> > This is your "underground economy" at work. That fellow is not
> > running a business or paying taxes on that pay. He's probably
> > retired and just after some extra pocket cash. You either pay him
> > in cash or if by check, he cashes it and says nothing.
> >
> > No real business can survive on $125 per day gross income.
>
> Forget the business. How can a single person can do more than couch
> surf at that rate, when they live in or near an urban area?

Umm, it's 15$ an hour. Granted it's only 32.5K a year, but with a
spouse working, puts you pretty much into middle income levels.

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