It depends where you live. In the Puget Sound region of Washington you can't find a house to rent for under about $2500 a month, or one to buy for under $500K; most are much more. Gasoline is over $4 a gallon.
I'm sure some regions are much cheaper.

But a fair wage depends on the employers ability to earn a profit. If the employer can't make a profit the notion of a "fair wage" is irrelevent.

that was one of my Dad's favorite mantras. If I didn't get anything else from him, that was drilled into my very being.

do I LIKE it? No.

is it the Truth? without question.

Lots of people make enough money. They are broke because their money habits.

I think a fair wage depends on a few factors.
If you make enough money to pay the bill afford some hobby/it's and put money away that's typically a fair wage.
Depending on your occupation may have something to do with a fair wage.if your in a job where it's harmful to your health or a very physical demanding job you should be compensated accordingly.

Yep

If picking berries is similar to tying rebar, it wouldn't be cheap.

Today’s employees are often not work focused they are more concerned how little time they need to work to get paid. The problems that creates is the bigger issue. Looking for a few longer days to get more days off hurts coverage of shifts making overtime less likely because others are on either side of the shift that needs covering so the pool is tiny then.

Sick time is budgeted like vacation time so again more shifts need to be covered at the overtime rates making another employee needed as the costs and coverage are easier to manage with extra bodies around.

Shooting stars come and go they come in hot set the place on fire being #1 employee but burn out just as fast and then gone just as fast. When I started at the jail there was a sign up sheet for overtime at the end nobody wanted any overtime.