What is the minimum wage required for someone to live comfortably , in exchange for 40 hours of labor?

Question

After all the promises, will the people now be guaranteed that amount, or will they continue to be exploited?

Remember, even slaves used to be housed, fed, and were given free health care (a sick slave is no good)

Answer 1

About $25.00 per hour would be my guess.

Answer 2

Depends on where you live and how much you are taxed!

You sure can't live in any major American city on minimum wage!

Minimum wage is about $600.00 a month after taxes and social security! You can't find an apartment in my city for $600.00 a month! You may be able to find a room, but that will leave you about $75.00 for food and all you other necessity for a month!

And this is based on the new one if it is ever passed!

Most minimum wage jobs were for high school kids who didn't have to pay rent! Don't try living on it! You will be homeless!

We don't live in the slums of South America! What a blame the victim view! Some really sick people on here. Now you know why you lost the election!

Well open!!

There is a federal minimum wage law that applies to all states! Many states have a minimum wage that is higher than the feds, but it can't be lower!

And people who get minimum wage do not get housing as they do not qualify, or medical, as the do not qualify! Some may get 50 or 60 dollars a month in food stamps!

Most poor people will not go to a welfare office! And why should people who work a full week have to go to a welfare office???

-Audre Lorde
For those of us who live at the shoreline
standing upon the constant edges of decision
crucial and alone
for those of us who cannot indulge
the passing dreams of choice
who love in doorways coming and going
in the hours between dawns
looking inward and outward
at once before and after
seeking a now that can breed
futures
like bread in our children's mouths
so their dreams will not reflect
the death of ours;
For those of us
who were imprinted with fear
like a faint line in the center of our foreheads
learning to be afraid with our mother's milk
for by this weapon
this illusion of some safety to be found
the heavy-footed hoped to silence us
For all of us
this instant and this triumph
We were never meant to survive.
And when the sun rises we are afraid
it might not remain
when the sun sets we are afraid
it might not rise in the morning
when our stomachs are full we are afraid
of indigestion
when our stomachs are empty we are afraid
we may never eat again
when we are loved we are afraid
love will vanish
when we are alone we are afraid
love will never return
and when we speak we are afraid
our words will not be heard
nor welcomed
but when we are silent
we are still afraid.
So it is better to speak
Remembering
we were never meant to survive

Answer 3

Considering what executives pay is, and considering that the original system we humans evolved from was that a man hunted or supplied his family, then spent his off time with that family, inorder to have more quality family time, which would rseduce drug abuse, crime, etc. I'd say $25 per hour, and a 30 hour work week. A minuim income rather than a minium wage becuase many are legitimately disabled and neither ssi, ssd or va pays a liviable wage. Also to eliminate the hard core welfare receipents from taking advantage all able bodied workers should be compelled to work either in private industry or in community service jobs, like trash along the highway pick up, deleivering meals on wheels etc.

Answer 4

The minimum wage should b $10.00 per hour not necessarily to live comfortably ,but to pay for the basic necessities and everything else to make a living. I don't earn the minimum, it's hard for anyone to comprehend how people with such low pay can make ends meet much less purchase a health insurance . All the companies were given an extension of 2 years to provide insurance for employees when they r the ones making all the profits. we. Live in a business world and no one cares how we take care of our payments as long as we make them. Again I say these rich people don't care about the working class as long as they make their humongous profits. It won't hurt to unite and speak 2 our representatives about this issue that concerns a vast amount of people. After all businesses get rich with the employees work and spending.

Answer 5

Your question, while thoughtful, is too arbitrary. What constitutes "comfortable" for one may not be the same as for another. To me, "comfortable" would be not having to lose sleep almost every night because I struggle to stay on top of my bills....have to say "no" to my kids a lot more often than I'd like to...cannot afford to buy health insurance. I could go on, but you get the point. The actual dollar amount for a Federal minimum wage to be increased should contain a retroactive cost-of-living increase that is in keeping with inflation. It will probably still fall far below what most people need to get above the poverty level. If that translates to "exploitation", then I would have to say, yes. My main request is that every time Congress votes an increase for themselves, that one is also given to the Federal minimum wage. Anyone who thinks that this is unreasonable is likely someone who is totally unaffected by this issue.

Answer 6

With or without benefits? There is a difference. We have about 44 million illegals now. Republicans want more not less. They need them to exploit with low wages and no benefits. Republicans also need them to drive down Americans pay. I was happy Ohio passed the $6.85 per hour minimum wage. Now 23 States are higher than the 1915 Federal minimum wage pay of $5.15.

Answer 7

I am not aware of statutory regulations on minimum wage. These I understand differ from State to State depending on cost of living. I have an Idea of cost of living in towns like New York or Houston. If a minimum wage of 50$ or 60$ per hour is paid to a worker ie a total of 2000$ or 2400$ it should be adequate to sustain him provided he gets State help for sickness and housing.

Answer 8

Remember that the politicians have raided Social Security for decades so it is no longer solvent. Savings for retirement, health/long term care must be factored in. I can't see less that $25.00 per hour being a "living" wage and no one is willing to pay that much! Thank you liberals!

Answer 9

Depends on where you live, but minimum wage jobs are not designed to make someone live comfortably. They are to be used as entry level positions to gain experience to get the mid level job that would allow that comfort level.


$12.25 an hour

Answer 10

A ratio would be early 1970's gasoline was 35 cent per gallon. Minimum wage $1.90 per hr. This would convert to 5 and a half gallons of gas per hour worked. Today $2.50 per gallon minimum wage $5.15 converts to less that two gallon per hour worked. To catch up to 1970's it would need to be $13.75 per hour worked.

Answer 11

It depends on the area of the country, and cost of living. But let's do some simple math.

Apartment rentals for one person, in a small apartment, average $500 to $800 per month around the country. Food tacks on another $200 per month ($6.50 per day), eating at home. Add utilities ($50), and a bus/transit pass ($50, can't afford a car), plus generally living expenses, and you're looking at $1000 to $1200 per month. That's roughly $250 to $300 per week, take-home. Taxes add another 30% to that, so between $325 and $400 per week gross.

At 40 hours, that's $8 to $10 per hour, just to live semi-comfortably. That leaves no savings, no luxuries, and assumes one person.

Let's say a family of three, with one child. Add $200 to rent, $400 to food, and $200 for other expenses. That's another $800 per month, or an extra $200 per week take-home, or $250 per week gross, for a total take-home between both parents of about $575 to $650 over eighty hours. That $7 to $8 per hour for both parents, without paying for child care. If they have to pay for child care, that's another $200 per month minimum, or another $1 to $2 per hour required.

So, for a single person, or a small family, each adult needs to average $8 to $10 per hour, working full time, to be debt-free. But that still leaves no savings, no luxuries, and no emergencies.