Love Dr, I wondered that while I was prostituting myself for a lot less than 29k a year in GA for the first 7 years. First job flying a 182 - $18,200/year on a station, meatbombing in a cresco paid about late 25k/year, $50/MR hour on a baron for my first twin job eating baked beans 3 times a day hoping some work would come in. Hardly raking it in.
This was mid 2000's and not uncommon. I loved my GA time, but I certainly never got paid well. From what I hear it hasn't improved a great deal since then. Before you bash other countries, go and ask a 210 or baron driver what they're on. I'm more than happy to be corrected, as I'd love to see a station (or stationair) driver get paid reasonably.