Minimun wage?

[mombrontrent]

Just curious what the minimum wage is in different states? I was reading a thread and people couldn't believe that you could make $10/hr at a fast food restaurant. I live in Ontario, Canada and here minimun wage is $10.25/hr which would still be hard to live on in my opinion, especially if you are a single parent it would be impossible.

 

[caledonia]

Here in the U.K the minimum wage for some one over 21 is approx £6 per hour and rises to £6.08 in October so approx $9.60. 18-20 year olds get £4.92 per hour.I agree with you hardly just reward in any type of employment however at least employers are prosecuted if they pay below this figure.


Ian

 

[drinkme]

In the Chicago area it's like $8.25 or $8.50 an hour. Definitely can't support a family on that, but if a parent was making that low an income they would be entitled to alot of financial benefits, such as free day care, free medical care for their children, and maybe food stamps (I don't know what the income requirements are for that), and then there is something called the "Earned Income Credit". That is during tax time, if you have children, and are a working parent, not only do you not have to pay Fed taxes but the Fed Gov't will give you money. I know someone who got something like a $5000 refund on their taxes!!! Holy cow! However, even with all of the help, I don't know what the quality of life would be like. After paying rent and utilities, there would be little money left over for a car payment or gas, or even a little luxury like enrolling your child in a dance class or going to the movies.

 

[snowy76]

$7.25 here in NYS. Hospitality jobs (waitresses, hotel housekeeping, etc.) make less, around $5/hr because they're supposed to count tips as wages.

 

[bigbabyblues]

I believe it is $7.25 an hour here as well except for restaurant servers.

 

[mombrontrent]

Wow, here in Ontario servers still get close to $9/hr I believe. Also like another poster suggested a low income family will get a child tax benifit every month, free or cheap daycare, geared to income housing if it is available ect. Still it must be a struggle for so many

 

[bartleby1]

Last I heard it was $7.25 in NJ and $2.13 for waiters/waitresses. Very difficult to live off of that, especially since NJ has one of the highest costs of living in the country. At 40 hours a week, that is roughly $15,000 per year. Crazy. My property taxes alone are $9,000 per year.

By the time taxes are taken out of minimum wage pay, I honestly can't see how people are living off of that.

 

[Mom2micayla]

I had that question a lot when I worked for ChaCha. I usually referred to this link- http://www.dol.gov/whd/minwage/america.htm

In Arizona, the minimum wage is $7.35.

 

[Sorsha]

$7.35 an hour in Montana. And NO you can't live off of it.

That's what I make working retail - and thank HEAVENS it isn't our family's only source of income. I get about 30-35 hours a week (can't have over 36 hours a week or you are considered "full-time" after which they have to give you benefits, and we can't have that, now can we?) and on average, after taxes, I bring home about $350 every two weeks. Yeah, $700 a month. Not going to get very far with that.

 

[Tinknalli]

$8.15 in VT

 

[indimom]

$7.25 here in Indiana.
And because some people have mentioned the benefits for low income families, I had to add this.
Here, in Indiana, there are limited number of "day care vouchers" available for low income families, so if you don't get into the program early enough in the year (before they run out), you are out of luck. I run a day care, so I get to hear all the complaints about these programs.

 

[JoiseyMom]

Have fun and compare!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_U.S._minimum_wages

 

[MrsJackSparrow4Life]

$7.25 here in Idaho but I don't see how anyone could possibly "live" on that; especially single parents.

 

[tvguy]

I think people could live on a LOT less than they do if they only bought want they need, not what they want.

My mom lives quite comfortably on her $13,000 a year social security. But her lifestyle before retiring is the reason. She always has done everything in cash, even big ticket items like the house and car. Of course, houses were a LOT cheaper 51 years ago when she and my dad bought her current house. Her last car blew an engine when it was 27 years old, and she was MAD it didn't last longer. And it was a PINTO!.
Her largest expense is her supplemental health insurance, $4,800 a year.
So it CAN be done.

 

[luvsJack]

I think people could live on a LOT less than they do if they only bought want they need, not what they want.

My mom lives quite comfortably on her $13,000 a year social security. But her lifestyle before retiring is the reason. She always has done everything in cash, even big ticket items like the house and car. Of course, houses were a LOT cheaper 51 years ago when she and my dad bought her current house. Her last car blew an engine when it was 27 years old, and she was MAD it didn't last longer. And it was a PINTO!.
Her largest expense is her supplemental health insurance, $4,800 a year.
So it CAN be done.

I make about that and there is NO way I could live on it without dh's income.

Saying that someone is "living comfortably" on that amount is fine when you are talking about someone who is not raising children, has a home that is paid for, etc. So whether or not it can be done depends on who you are talking about.

I think minimum wage is $7.25 an hour here, I am not really sure. And no one can live on it. Especially when you add the fact that most minimum wage jobs aren't 40 hour a week jobs.

 

[mamacatnv]

NV uses Federal minimum wage of $7.25 if health benefits are offered

NV added a $1 per hour provision to $8.25 if there are no benefits.

 

[eliza61]

I think people could live on a LOT less than they do if they only bought want they need, not what they want.

My mom lives quite comfortably on her $13,000 a year social security. But her lifestyle before retiring is the reason. She always has done everything in cash, even big ticket items like the house and car. Of course, houses were a LOT cheaper 51 years ago when she and my dad bought her current house. Her last car blew an engine when it was 27 years old, and she was MAD it didn't last longer. And it was a PINTO!.
Her largest expense is her supplemental health insurance, $4,800 a year.
So it CAN be done.

considering my 1st apartment in in NYC was 900 bucks a month a it was a death trap out of a horror movie, I can't imagine trying to live off of 1000 a month.

depends on how you define "need". You could exist off of peanut butter crackers and water but that is not what I would describe as life.

In ny you could live in the projects with gunfire and drug dealers around you, afraid to leave you apt after dusk (and some times before hand) but once again that's not what I would describe as a life.

 

[Hollywoodhaha]

$7.25 in Florida

 

[Sorsha]

I think people could live on a LOT less than they do if they only bought want they need, not what they want.

My mom lives quite comfortably on her $13,000 a year social security. But her lifestyle before retiring is the reason. She always has done everything in cash, even big ticket items like the house and car. Of course, houses were a LOT cheaper 51 years ago when she and my dad bought her current house. Her last car blew an engine when it was 27 years old, and she was MAD it didn't last longer. And it was a PINTO!.
Her largest expense is her supplemental health insurance, $4,800 a year.
So it CAN be done.

Well sure! But she has no bills! And HUGE kudos to her for getting to retirement age with everything all planned out and prepared for!

BUT! For someone who has kids to raise, a house payment to make, utilities to pay, a car payment to make and/or a car to maintain, and all the other assorted bills to pay that come with living the life of a NOT retired person - can you live comfortably on $13,000 a year? I think not.

 

[pixiefairy]

$8.25 here in Illinois.