Cheap is really cheap, like a poverty vote, but the work, the freedom and the goal is enough compensation to work at a research lab. I don't agree with this compromises that are required to enter the academy but if you want to get into this type of work there isn't much else to do.

As someone in the comments said, it depends on the grant that the institution that you want to join has or if the lab has some kind of assistant position to fill.

I've worked as a research assistant in several labs in NYC. About $30-35k/year was typical. A new post-doc would make about $40k/year.

That's awesome! What kind of work did you have to do? What did you enjoy what not?