So $200k a year before overtime, plus $50k in benefits. The construction industry cannot afford that even with 0% profit margins, and society cannot afford the construction industry to raise quotes high enough to fund that. New homes and city infrastructure projects are already at nosebleed prices.
You asked and op answered honestly. Most people on HN recognize the value of their labor and won't take a lower paying _desk job_ than what they know they're worth, much less a backbreaking labor job that will likely ruin their health long term.
thats not how it works. you just dont accumulate or lose time off so theres no game playing about how much you have. if your sick, you take off, no stress about how many days. have an appointment, you just go, it doesn't eat into your vacation time. the time off still gets approved.
If I had no education or other skills, I'd do it for 30 bucks an hour with the same benefits office workers get like health care, pto, sick days, and guaranteed concern for safety.
This is not a high bar. 30 bucks an hour is just above a basic living wage.
These dudes are not only ruining their bodies in unsafe conditions they're doing it for 15 bucks an hour.
And they're destroying themselves for peanuts because they're competing against immigrants who will allow themselves to be treated like animals because they come from a country that treats it's citizens like animals.
Americans are being pitted against immigrants in a massive race to the bottom to see who is ok with being treated like shit the most.