Why is it that most summer camp employees are paid below minimum wage?

Question

I've noticed this with many counselors my age(16), and I'm wondering why is it that younger counselors that can earn minimum wage working at any other civilian jobs, such as a clerk or receptionist, but summer camp workers are paid bi-weekly, which divided up into each day becomes only about a dollar an hour?

I know that tips are taken into consideration, but earning tips as a counselor is not always garunteed, unlike a waitress or a pizza delivery boy. There are also positions, such as a camp specialist (i.e., one who isn't a counselor and works at a designated station, such as basketball or tennis) that can't earn tips, but still earn below minimum wage, the lowest I've seen being about $2.50.

Is there a reason for this? Is this considered illegal or inhumane by any means?

For the most part, I was wondering about the payment of day camps, although I knew of a few people who are counselors at sleep away camps and are also paid below minimum wage, but some of you have already answered that and resolved a personal question for me, but my main focus is *Day Camps*

Answer 1

Well, if you look at your Federal Rights poster that is required in all places of business. You will see that an employer can deduct about $600 a month in room and board from minimum wage. That means that if you work 160 hours a month at $5.15 and hour you make $815 a month. Subtract the credits an emplyer can take for room aqnd board and you get only $215 a month. That is $1.34 an hour. Sucks.

Answer 2

If its sleep away camp, maybe they are factoring the cost of room and board or maybe they are just doing something illegal. Check the paperwork they give u when u got hired or do some more research because camp is expensive I dont know why they arent paying you

Answer 3

How are you calculating hours? By 24 a day?

Your room and board value would also be taken into account.