How much is minimum wage? What will I earn/make an hour?
How much is minimum wage for waiters and waitresses? The basic minimum wage rate for food service workers, which includes waiters and waitresses, is $7.25 per hour. This hourly rate includes your employer contribution and the tips received. The minimum employer contribution in direct wages is $2.13 per hour, and the worker must make at least $7.25 an hour after tips are added to the hourly rate. The federal minimum wage is currently $7.25. This new amount went in to effect on July 24, 2009. This rate is an increase from the summer of 2008, when the lowest amount you could be paid per hour in any state was $6.55. So you had a raise of .70 cents. For everyone lucky enough to land one of the jobs for teens available this summer, you will actually get a raise! This is also true for adults earning minimum wage who are working full time and part time jobs. New Minimum Wage Rate Increase State by State as of July 2009How much is minimum wage? Here are the current, and new state minimum wage rates that went into effect as of July 24, 2009:Alabama - $6.55 to $7.25 | Alaska - $7.15 to “TBA” | Arizona - $7.25 to $7.25 | Arkansas - $6.25 to $7.25 | California $8.00 to $8.00 | Colorado $7.28 to $7.28 | Connecticut $8.00 to $8.00 | Delaware $7.15 to $7.25 | District of Columbia (DC) $7.55 to $7.55 | Georgia $6.55 to $7.25 | Hawaii $7.25 to $TBD | Idaho $6.55 to $7.24 | Illinois $7.75 to $8.00 | Indiana $6.55 to $7.25 | Iowa $7.25 to $7.25 | Kansas* $6.55 to $7.25 | Kentucky $6.55 to $7.25 | Louisiana $6.55 to $6.55 | Maine $7.25 to $7.50 | Maryland $6.55 to $7.25 | Minnesota** $5.25 to $7.25 | Mississippi $6.55 to $7.25 | Missouri $7.05 to $7.25 | Montana $6.90 to $7.25 | Nebraska $6.55 to $7.25 | Nevada*** $6.85 to $7.55 | New Hampshire $7.25 to $7.25 | New Jersey $7.15 to $7.25 | New Mexico $7.50 to $6.50 | New York $7.15 to $7.25 | North Carolina $6.55 to $7.25 | North Dakota $6.55 to $7.25 | Ohio $7.30 to $7.25 | Oklahoma $6.55 to $7.25 | Oregon $8.40 to $8.40 | Pennsylvania**** $7.15 to $7.25 | Puerto Rico $6.55 to $6.55 | Rhode Island $7.40 to $7.40 | South Carolina $6.55 to $7.25 | South Dakota $6.55 to $7.25 | Tennessee $5.58 to $7.25 | Texas $6.55 to $7.25 | Utah $6.55 to $7.25 | Vermont $8.06 to $8.06 | Virginia $6.55 to $7.25 | Washington $8.55 to $8.55 | West Virginia $7.25 to $7.25 | Wisconsin $6.50 to "TBA" | Wyoming $6.55 to $7.25 * The Minimum wage rate listed is for businesses who make less than $500,000 per year before taxes have the minimum wage rate of $2.65. All businesses who gross more than $500,000 in a year are required to pay the federal minimum wage rate. Calculate Your Hourly Rate and SalaryWhat is required by law is that you be paid an hourly wage of at least $2.13. This amount is low because it takes into consideration the amount you will receive in tips and gratuities. But if your tips along with your employer's $2.13 does not equal the federal minimum wage then your employer is required to pay you the difference to bring your rate up to $7.25 per hour. Is NYS Minimum Wage a Living Wage?
Many people argue about how much is minimum wage, whether the NYS minimum wage is a living wage or not. Can you survive on a job that pays you $7.25 an hour? Think about it, most full-time jobs will have you work 40 hours a week. So, 40 x $7.25 equals $290, if you get paid weekly that would be 4 weeks in a month. $290 x 4 equals $1190 per month before taxes. How much is minimum wage after taxes? Even lower, we are talking about less than $1000 a month. And if you have looked for apartments for rent in Brooklyn, you know that amount of money doesn't take you very far, even if you don't have kids and a family to support. So how do people survive without earning a living wage in New York City, or anywhere for that matter? There are a variety of ways to supplement your income in order to live, some are legal and others are illegal. Many people pick up a second job (on or off the books), part-time or full-time, some people share living quarters with others (roommates or borders), buy in bulk, bring your lunch to work, buy generic whenever possible, use credit cards (big no-no), etc. How much is minimum wage? In today's economy it's a whole lot more than being jobless with no money. This website can help you find where the jobs for teens and employment opportunities for adults are. If you try long enough and hard enough you will find work. Jobs for 13 Year Olds | Jobs for 14 Year Olds | Jobs for Teens | Hiring Jobs for Teens Leave How much is minimum wage Go to Jobs for 13 Year Olds Home Page |