US v Aussie wages v cost of living

I work for a company called Convergys, we outsource customer service call centers to major companies. My site handles AT&T.

I get paid $9.50/hr. About $600 every two weeks. There's also a $.50 shift differential for hours worked after 7:00pm plus with pay per performance I can make $3 extra/hour. So after 7pm I can make $13/hr, $12.50/hr before 7pm.

Also to, we get commission on plan changes as well as Add a lines. The big comission earners are U-verse tv and internet service. It's perfectly possible to bring home a 1K commission check in a month.

I get 80hrs pto a year, given I work 40 hours a week for 52 weeks. More hours=more PTO and visa versa. I get two days UTO each month and 8 paid holidays. But the only holidays you're garunteed off is Thanksgiving and Christmas. If your scheduled to work on any other holiday, you get your 8 hour pay plus your 8 hour overtime holiday pay.

The medical, dental and SS plans are great too!