They did that work paying less than $20,000 a year equivalent today. And that was the prevailing wage.
http://www.conservapedia.com/Works_Progress_Administration
“The WPA employed a maximum of 3.3 million in November 1938. Worker pay was based on three factors: the region of the country, the degree of urbanization and the individual’s skill. It varied from $19/month to $94/month. The goal was to pay the local prevailing wage, but to limit a person to 30 hours or less a week of work.”
