The industry is so fucked right now that people take non-union work at shit wages with no benefits. people just want work and don’t care too much where it comes from. that’s what her last line about flipping the project refers to, if the production turned union partway through, that number increases drastically and the workers gets benefits. the producers then argue they can’t afford that but that’s besides the point

There are only a certain amount of jobs made with a budget that will pay this each year and there are many more people who need work than how many those can hire.

$1500-$2000 day rate is a normal rate for an industry professional who is booked for months but there are probably dozens or hundreds of people for every role in every city who are not getting those rates which is why you are booked out for months. Those roles are going to you but the dozens of other people who need work are forced to accept less or else they won't be hired over the dozens of others who will accept it.

i guarantee you that you're making that money because of who you know, not what you know. That isn't the same as saying you don't know skills worth that value, I'm saying you would not receive even a fraction of that value without whatever connections got you to where you are. See Jabril's comment for more