Profit is revenue minus expenses. Employees don't do this calculation, as the employer normally pays for all work expenses. Their paycheck is pure profit -- no expenses to account for. As such, people don't really think of paychecks in these terms, so it sounds strange.

It makes sense in the comment above, as the cab driver actually has work expenses that they pay for out of pocket and are not reimbursed for.

It starts as a gross value and after taxes, ei/old age is taken out it becomes a much smaller net value.