How many people do you know who make minimum wage, and in what profession do they work?

Question

In my area, Northern Virginia, the only people I know making minimum wage also make tips to compensate, but this is only a small part of the nation. I am trying to see how other areas of the country relate in regards to the current debate of raising the minimum wage. This question is asked in the spirit of bipartisanship. It is in no way a slam towards either sitting political party. Thanks.

Answer 1

I know of no one making minimum wage. However, when it does get raised, businesses will use the wage hike as an excuse to raise their prices.

Answer 2

Well I tell you what, I'm really ticked off about this. I used to work as a certified nurses aide in a nursing home. I don't know if you know anything about that type of work but it's very hard. I couldn't understand why I had to be certified by the state nursing board and I still only got minimum wage. I don't know what the wage for that job is now but I bet that people in the nursing homes are getting paid not much more than minimun wage. There are other positions that are outside of the nursing home that require the same licensing and they pay much more. I also am board certified as a pharmacy technician and around here, that job only pays 8 or 9 an hour. It makes no sense to me.

Answer 3

I live in South Carolina and I personally know of no one making the minimum wage. I know quite a few that don't make much over minimum though, like .50 or .75 over. Even if the minimum were raised to $8 or $9 an hour, it would be too little to raise a family on with prices at the level they're at today. Do the math, you'll see what I'm talking about.

Answer 4

I personally know no one that is making minimum wage. My kids work at a place and make $7.50 an hour and that is an after school job. The minimum wage increase is just a ploy the Dems are using to make themselvs look like they are doing something good for the so called poor. But believe me it is working, the older generation is buying off on this, it just amazes me how the can sway people to believe that they are doing something so great.

Answer 5

First of all if you are an able bodied adult and all you make is minimum wage,you are a total loser.McDonald's pays more.More seriously,minimum wage should be a state by state issue since the cost of living varies so greatly from one area of the country to another.People working for tips do not fall in the minimum wage category.Unless they suck at their job.

Answer 6

You can employ more people at the market price or fewer people at a higher than market price. From an economic standpoint it's best to buy and sell anything at the market price. There are those who, for non-economic reasons, prefer to have more people unemployed, but those who are employed receiving more compensation. But since you posted this in the economics section, the answer is it's a "bad thing". You do know, don't you, that the average household income of those earning a minimum wage in the US is over $50,000?

Answer 7

No one, even the kids at the fast food places are making more than minimum wage. Even the migrant workers on the farms around here make more than minimum wage.

Answer 8

If I actually do know anyone making minimum wage it's either work study or an after school job.

Oh, and food servers that are tipped as well.

Answer 9

Manual labor. Raising the minimum wage causes employers to eliminate jobs, so it hurst everyone.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minimum_Wage

Answer 10

fast foods