using System;

using System.Globalization;

public class Program

{

    public static void Main()

    {

        //string hrlyRate = "$$$ #,20..-0?.*4%5$$. 09"; //severe Fat Finger, multiple decimal pts

        string hrlyRate = "$$$ #,20-.0?*4%5 $$ 09";     //severe Fat Finger, one decimal pt

        //string hrlyRate = "$ 20.0";                   //dollar sign

        //string hrlyRate = "";

        var num = GetCompRate(hrlyRate);

        float? GetCompRate(string hrlyRate)

        {

            var rate = hrlyRate;

            if (string.IsNullOrEmpty(rate)) return null;

    Console.WriteLine($"\r\nstring as it comes in from sending service. Change the var to test different junk string inputs and check how they process. Currently looks like this: \r\n {rate}");

            var num = float.TryParse(rate, NumberStyles.Any, CultureInfo.CreateSpecificCulture("en-US"), out var tmp)

               ? tmp

               : 0;

    Console.WriteLine($"\r\nafter float.TryParse with stacked NumberStyles and Culture specified \r\n {num}");      

            return num;

        }

    }

}