Imagine if your mom gave you some money to buy a toy you really wanted, but she only gave you a little bit of money. That little bit of money is called a pittance. It's not a lot, but it's better than nothing.
When we talk about pittance in the grown-up world, it means a very small amount of money that someone earns or is paid. It might not even be enough money to cover their basic needs or expenses.
So, when someone says that they earn a pittance, it means they are not making very much money at all. It can be frustrating because they might be working really hard, but still not be able to afford everything they need or want.