Depending on the job the pay can be north of half a mil. For example the welders who work on live gas pipelines are very well compensated. Probably because the supply of lunatics willing to take a torch to a live gas pupeline is rather constrained.

Depending on the worker, this is def true for the guys on the rigs. They make a ton, but have to live in what's basically a barracks in some emptiness in Dakotas/Canada/etc.

I obviously think the solution is to pay more, but money has decreasing worth and having a significant other/friends/family near you is something that only feels more important the more money you have in the bank.

It's not a simple problem for sure. Wonder how sites like Drillr (rig gig workers) are doing.