She's making at most $50,000, and that's on private contract work (ie very, very variable - she could easily make half that, and that's part of the reason people like that charge so much). The average US salary is $50,000. Now, compare that to the UK, where it's ?24,000, and imagine some one was telling you that by making ?24,000 if you have a good year you're living the life of Riley and should earn less..