Barbara Ehrenreich - As a non-fiction narrative, the author was the main character of the book, conceiving and carrying out the low-wage experiments. Ehrenreich kept her real name while applying for jobs, though she did not reveal her Ph.D. in biology, nor her background as a writer. 

B.J. - Manager at Ehrenreich’s first job at a restaurant in Key West. 

George - Dishwasher in the Key West Restaurant. An immigrant from Czechoslovakia.

Ted - Manager of The Maids, a housekeeping service in Maine that Ehrenreich joins. 

Holly – A maid who works with Ehrenreich in Maine. 

Marge - A maid from Maine who suffers from arthritis. 

Melissa - An employee of a Wal-Mart in Minneapolis. 

Howard - Assistant manager at the Minneapolis Wal-Mart.
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