I freelanced for Paizo specifically as a "Feature Writer" for Dragon.
Over $30K freelancing is pretty impressive. About 16-18 years ago I somehow saw some WoTC salary numbers, I was pretty gobsmacked that Chris Perkins was apparently making under $30K! Hopefully a fair bit more now. But current Paizo staffers making under $30K is a bit less surprising in that light, even if their janitor-who-won't-clean likely makes more...
Well to be fair - I wasn't just freelancing with Paizo, but most of it was. What I meant to illustrate was that as paid full-time employees even back then you could make that much, or more, freelancing.
And to put a finer note note on that - I did that while I was working 60+ hour weeks at Microsoft with a newborn child *on the side*. Yeah it was hectic, but I'm saying that anyone complaining about "living wage" while putting out low-effort is getting exactly what they're willing to put out for.
Watching Jessica Price caper through this cottage industry and setting it on fire puts me of two minds - On one hand it's a testament to the grotesque levels of entitlement Jessica and SJW's like her with their infantile views of reality are willing to leverage in order to ruin everything they say they care for. But it also is a good thing because these companies allowed their ranks to be filled by these ideologue morons and they deserve to reap what they sow because they were too scared to stand up for themselves.
And maybe they believe in this garbage too? Clearly they say as much. They weren't like that when I was working with many of them - but that's because it wasn't as politicized. Well now it has, and Paizo and WotC have chosen their side - and I'm fine with the results. I'll enjoy the carnage from my hilltop as Nero plays something fun.