That is what a wrangler does, and you should get paid upto $100 a day, depending on experience.

As for the other stuff..

I would hire someone green to work for me, I would not give them the full go ahead to guide a paying customer right off the bat, I would start them off as a camp hand, and teach them the ropes. But deff., I would hire a rookie.

I don't know where your buddy worked, maybe he sucked as a guide.. but my guys will make 5k in a month..