In almost every state in the US, it is nearly impossible to make a living wage off a minimum wage income without having to work approximately 100 hours.
A living wage is a wage that is high enough to have a normal standard of living. According to Alliance for a just society, in most states the living wage does not hit below $14.26 per hour. Therefore the current federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour is not nearly enough to make ends meet. In order to afford expenses like housing, utilities, insurance, and child care, Americans will have to work approximately 95 hours plus some just to earn a living wage.
Nowhere in America is there a place that a family could live off of a minimum wage income. There is a huge gap between minimum wage and what it takes to get by because the wage has not kept up with inflation. The cost of living is continuing to rise and therefore demand for an increase in minimum wage is necessary.
There has been some success in trying to raise minimum wage to $15 per hour in recent years and that is still almost not enough to get by. A single adult in America, it is very difficult to get by with even $15 an hour. Imagine workers who have to support a family. That would mean both parents must at least be making $17-$18 an hour to have a normal standard of living.
