[lurchpop]

Using national numbers isn't really useful. The case study of the $50k ironworker in Seattle is well below the median for that city which has a median income of $80k.

[mox1]

And the 50k worker in the story is 20 years old. I'm sure he has a lot of potential salary growth.

[vkou]

Or a chance at destroying their body by the age of 35.

[maxerickson]

That $80k is household income.