The minimum wage of Florida and Virginia, and other states

[o2bnocn]

So I needed to know what the minimum wage of Virginia is and it's $7.25 and the minimum wage of Florida is $8.05. I live in Virginia and the cost of living is outrageous. I thought it was supposedly "cheap" to live in Florida. I don't know enough facts and this wasn't really supposed to be a debate of Virginia versus Florida, it just surprised me that there's is higher than Virginia.

Just a thought for discussion though!

[king4cash]

Well, more and more states are pushing to increase the minimum wage to $15..

[sfreeman8]

Well, more and more states are pushing to increase the minimum wage to $15..

Yep those states might find a problem. Watch Washington state (or is it Oregon) who upped their minimum wage.

Sixteen  years (1998) after adopting an unprecedented minimum wage that labor activists said would fix poverty and depoliticize the issue ($9.47/hour), Washington has little to show for its trouble other than fewer entry-level jobs and resurgent union protests seeking to raise the minimum wage still further.  Although the state’s overall job growth has remained strong since adoption of the high minimum wage, growth in industries with a prevalence of low-wage workers has slowed.  accommodation and food service jobs (think hotels and restaurants) fell by 5.7%. Declining entry-level job opportunities have hit low-skill workers hard.

Now Washington has upped the minimum wage to $15/hr to be  phased in by 2025. Already, a parking company has added a “living-wage surcharge” to its rates. One hotel closed its restaurant and laid off 17 employees. Employees at another hotel reported losing an array of benefits, with one stating that the $15 minimum wage “sounds good, but it’s not good.”

The above were excerpts from Forbes.

[fjaz1]

They need more to pay for air conditioning 

[potluck6]

I know in San Francisco the minimum wage is 15.00 but to rent a one bd apartment is something like 3000.00 a month crazy right.

[JaniceSW]

Well, more and more states are pushing to increase the minimum wage to $15..

Yep those states might find a problem. Watch Washington state (or is it Oregon) who upped their minimum wage.

Sixteen  years (1998) after adopting an unprecedented minimum wage that labor activists said would fix poverty and depoliticize the issue ($9.47/hour), Washington has little to show for its trouble other than fewer entry-level jobs and resurgent union protests seeking to raise the minimum wage still further.  Although the state’s overall job growth has remained strong since adoption of the high minimum wage, growth in industries with a prevalence of low-wage workers has slowed.  accommodation and food service jobs (think hotels and restaurants) fell by 5.7%. Declining entry-level job opportunities have hit low-skill workers hard.

Now Washington has upped the minimum wage to $15/hr to be  phased in by 2025. Already, a parking company has added a “living-wage surcharge” to its rates. One hotel closed its restaurant and laid off 17 employees. Employees at another hotel reported losing an array of benefits, with one stating that the $15 minimum wage “sounds good, but it’s not good.”

The above were excerpts from Forbes.

I wholeheartedly agree that raising the minimum raise to such levels as are being talked about could be very problematic.  There could be very far-reaching consequences as this poster has described.  Those wages have to be paid somehow so it will be passed along.  Many businesses will choose to close or not expand.  What will engineers and teachers who have years of education think they need to be paid if an entry level worker is making $15/hr? 

The key is furthering your education, whether in college or vocational school.  Do some research and find what skills are going to be necessary in the next 20 years and learn them.  Become a supervisor in your present job.  Don't just talk about needing a $7-8/hr. raise with no skill/knowledge development!  Low skilled, entry level jobs are called that for a reason.

[o2bnocn]

I agree. I have my associates in business administration. I also have close to 3 years in the administrative field. I don't think it is right that people are going to be making close to what I'm making soon if all these changes happen for people who are entry level without the education or experience. I worked hard to get where I am.

I also think the amount increased is ridiculous. One of the problems is that there are too many corporations getting away with too many things like not compensating a fair / proper amount per hour, making employees work holidays, and so forth. However, I don't think the solution is $15/hour minimum wage. That is beyond ridiculous to me. Then what are people with the education and experience supposed to make because their wage isn't going to magically increase by $15 an hour!

[sfreeman8]

So I needed to know what the minimum wage of Virginia is and it's $7.25 and the minimum wage of Florida is $8.05. I live in Virginia and the cost of living is outrageous. I thought it was supposedly "cheap" to live in Florida. I don't know enough facts and this wasn't really supposed to be a debate of Virginia versus Florida, it just surprised me that there's is higher than Virginia.

Just a thought for discussion though!

I don't think the cost of living has anything to do with state minimum wage. If it was more expensive to live in Florida, there wouldn't be so many people flocking there. They don't have state income taxes and some other taxes that other states collect but they do have other taxes that other states don't collect, unless they just call them different names.

In PA, minimum wage is $7.25/hour. Most businesses pay more than that. Unless you work in a restaurant (making tips) or fast food restaurant (mostly young people), businesses, what few are left, are paying a minimum of $10/hour or more. It just depends on the business.

[nannycoe1]

7.25 in NC