The five lowest paying jobs are maid/housekeeping, food service workers (servers, bartenders, food preparation workers, etc.), retail salespersons, cashiers and personal care attendants.
Maids and housekeeping workers make a median hourly wage of $10. 17, significantly below the median hourly wage of $18. 58. As such, they are the lowest paid job in the US. Food service workers, such as servers and bartenders, make a median hourly wage of $10.
97, followed by retail salespersons who make a median hourly wage of $12. 36. Cashiers are even lower, making a median hourly wage of just $11. 42. Lastly, there are personal care attendants who make a median hourly wage of only $11.
42.
In short, five lowest paying jobs are maid/housekeeping, food service workers, retail salespersons, cashiers, and personal care attendants. With a median hourly wage of $10. 17 and lower, these jobs can be some of the lowest paid in the country.
What states have $15 minimum wage?
As of January 2020, the following states have a minimum wage of $15 per hour:
California – The state minimum wage is currently set at $13 an hour for employers with 26 or more employees, and $12 an hour for employers with 25 or fewer employees.
Massachusetts – Starting on January 1, 2020, the minimum wage in Massachusetts is set to increase to $12.75 per hour. On January 1, 2021, the minimum wage will increase to $13.50 per hour.
Washington – Washington State’s minimum wage is currently set at $13.50 per hour, and is set to increase gradually starting in 2021.
Illinois – The minimum wage in Illinois is currently set at $9.25 per hour, but is set to increase to $15 per hour by 2025.
New York – The New York State minimum wage is currently set at $11.80 an hour, with some localities mandating a higher minimum wage.
New Jersey – The minimum wage in New Jersey is currently set at $10.00 per hour and is set to increase to $15 per hour by 2024.
Arizona – Arizona’s state minimum wage is currently set at $10.50 per hour. As of 2020, several cities in Arizona have passed a $15 minimum wage, including Flagstaff, Phoenix, Tempe, and Tucson.
Colorado – The minimum wage in Colorado is currently set at $11.10 per hour and is set to increase to $12 per hour in 2021 and then to $15 an hour by 2022.
Maine – The minimum wage in Maine is currently set at $11.00 per hour and is set to increase to $12.15 per hour on January 1, 2021, and then to $15 per hour by 2025.
Vermont – The Vermont minimum wage is currently set at $10.78 an hour and is set to increase to $15.00 an hour by 2024.
Connecticut – Connecticut’s minimum wage is currently set at $11.00 per hour and is slated to increase gradually over the next few years, reaching $15.00 per hour by 2023.
How much do US pay per hour?
The amount of money that people in the United States are paid per hour can vary drastically depending on occupation, level of experience, education, certifications, and region of the country. As of 2021, according to the U.
S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median hourly wage for all occupations in the United States is $23. 42 per hour. For example, an experienced Registered Nurse earns an average of $35. 87 per hour and an experienced Software Developer earns an average of $54.
63 per hour. In comparison, the minimum wage for workers under the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) is currently $7. 25 per hour. Many states also have their own minimum wage statutes that set higher wages than the federal requirement.
What is minimum wage in all 50 states?
Minimum wage laws vary by state in the United States. As of 2021, the federal minimum wage is $7. 25 per hour and all states with minimum wage laws must meet or exceed the federal rate. Some states, including Alaska, Florida, and New Mexico, have rates higher than the federal minimum wage.
Conversely, some, such as Arkansas and Georgia, have lower rates. The following are the current minimum wage rates for all 50 states, as well as the District of Columbia:
Alabama: $7.25/hr
Alaska: $10.19/hr
Arizona: $12.15/hr
Arkansas: $11.00/hr
California: $13.00/hr
Colorado: $12.32/hr
Connecticut: $12.00/hr
Delaware: $9.25/hr
District of Columbia: $15.00/hr
Florida: $8.65/hr
Georgia: $5.15/hr
Hawaii: $10.10/hr
Idaho: $7.25/hr
Illinois: $11.00/hr
Indiana: $7.25/hr
Iowa: $7.25/hr
Kansas: $7.25/hr
Kentucky: $7.25/hr
Louisiana: $7.25/hr
Maine: $12.15/hr
Maryland: $11.75/hr
Massachusetts: $13.50/hr
Michigan: $9.65/hr
Minnesota: $10.08/hr
Mississippi: $7.25/hr
Missouri: $10.30/hr
Montana: $8.75/hr
Nebraska: $9.00/hr
Nevada: $9.00/hr
New Hampshire: $7.25/hr
New Jersey: $12.00/hr
New Mexico: $9.35/hr
New York: $12.50/hr
North Carolina: $7.25/hr
North Dakota: $7.25/hr
Ohio: $8.80/hr
Oklahoma: $7.25/hr
Oregon: $12.75/hr
Pennsylvania: $7.25/hr
Rhode Island: $11.50/hr
South Carolina: $7.25/hr
South Dakota: $9.30/hr
Tennessee: $7.25/hr
Texas: $7.25/hr
Utah: $7.25/hr
Vermont: $11.75/hr
Virginia: $7.25/hr
Washington: $13.69/hr
West Virginia: $8.75/hr
Wisconsin: $7.25/hr
Wyoming: $7.25/hr
Is $15 a living wage?
Whether or not $15 is a living wage depends on the cost of living in the area and the individual’s financial needs. Generally speaking, a living wage is an income necessary to cover basic living expenses such as housing, food, child care, health care, and transportation.
The amount of money a person needs to make in order to sustain these basic needs will vary based on region, family size, and other factors.
In some areas, $15 might be enough to provide basic living expenses. According to MIT’s Living Wage Calculator, $15. 12 is the living wage for a single adult in Raleigh, NC with no children. However, this number is much higher in areas like San Francisco, CA, where the living wage is $24.
92 for a single adult.
There is also the question of individual financial needs. A person’s financial needs may be higher than the living wage, depending on their lifestyle. For example, someone looking to save for retirement or take regular vacations may need to make more than $15 to meet their financial goals.
In conclusion, while $15 may be enough in some areas to cover basic living expenses, it is not enough in other locations. Additionally, financial needs may exceed what can be provided by a living wage.
Who would benefit from $15 minimum wage?
Those who would benefit the most from a $15 minimum wage are low-wage and low-income workers. This includes both service industry and non-service industry workers, such as retail staff, fast-food workers, healthcare aides, factory workers, housekeepers, janitors, and home health aides.
Low-wage and low-income workers are often women, people of color, young adults, and foreign-born workers, who are the least able to negotiate for higher wages. A $15 minimum wage could help to increase their income, helping them cover basic living expenses such as rent or food as well as increasing their spending power.
Raising wages helps to increase consumer spending and reduce poverty, improve wages for all workers, and ensure that businesses are able to pay for the wages of their workers, be able to afford to keep their other workers, and remain competitive.
Ultimately, the implementation of a $15 minimum wage would benefit not just low-wage and low-income workers, but society as a whole.
