Is minimum wage $15 now? (Orange, Emeryville: apartment complex, to rent, home)

[expatCA]

Originally Posted by Ultrarunner

There are places that it does and places where it doesn't...

Don't confuse minimum wage with living wage.

I was at minimum wage for a number of years during my teens... started working at age 12.

Working for minimum gave me job experience and confidence...

On one job I worked with many that had learned the Tool Maker Trade in Germany... it was really interesting to hear these Craftsman speak on such things.

Apparently... to learn a trade not all that long ago the family had to Pay the master craftsman for the privilege of working... or the trainee became indentured.

Mom is a Diploma RN back when that was popular... she worked, lived and studied at the Hospital and got pocket change as a stipend... sharing a hospital dorm room with 3 others and if they carefully saved they could go out the two days a month they had off.

Maybe people just expect more today?

Yes, a minimum wage was and shouldn't be a living wage. It is a starter wage and if you don't learn enough and work hard enough, you will not get a Living wage.

People want more for less and will really never get it.

[Ultrarunner]

Another option is be self employed... I'm meeting more and more self employed or contract employees these days... many are consultants and independent inspectors.

[JohnG72]

Originally Posted by neutrino78x

Minimum wage should pay for at least half a room in an apartment. So if apartments are 2k per month, 1/3 of your monthly income from working a full time job at minimum wage should be at least $500. This should rise with inflation.

If you were to put such a law into effect, rents would continue to rise, without ever stopping.

DUCY?

[PCALMike]

Originally Posted by expatCA

Yes, a minimum wage was and shouldn't be a living wage. It is a starter wage and if you don't learn enough and work hard enough, you will not get a Living wage.

People want more for less and will really never get it.

Of course it should be a living wage. Not everyone can become a manager of a business. The average age of minimum wage workers is 35 years old. When you were young in the 1950s, times were very different. The government actually CARED about its people during this period of social democratic rule and a guy like Eisenhower would be considered a far left socialist extremist if he had ran for office today.

[OwlKaMyst]

Originally Posted by J.Thomas

In some areas i'm seeing $9.5.

Then they would be paying less than minimum wage. Not sure how they are getting away with that.
The state's minimum is $10. Certain cities have higher minimums. I think that SF, it is $15.

[OwlKaMyst]

Originally Posted by lukas1973

Example:

Monthly income: $1,200

Rent for modest 1 bedroom apartment or studio: $350
Utilities: $100
Food: $200
Transportation: $100
Clothes: $50
Personal care: $50
Furniture, appliances: $50
TV, internet, cell-phone: $50
Insurances: $50
Free time activities: $100
Savings: $100

There is no such apartments or even studios available for $350. Well, maybe one...in an extremely bad area and in bad condition, and small as can be.
Last time I rented for $350 was a granny unit, in the bad part of town back in 1988.
If a person work minimum wage, full time they will take home about $1,280. One has to share housing or it is just no doable.

I don't understand it either. It used to be a man could go to work, make enough money to have a family, buy a house and the woman stayed home and cared for the children. Then it got to be where both parents needed to work to afford anything....now it has reached the point where it takes a third income to be able to afford anything.

As goes minimum wage and living wage. Minimum wage should be a living wage. Plenty of places hire and only ever pay minimum wage. A person can work at the same gas station for 5 years and never get a raise. If you are able to work full time, then your income should be able to support you, independently.
I understand minimum wage as a starting wage for people new to a specific field, that makes sense, you get paid more when you have more experience.
But like the gas station job. Someone has to do it and who ever does should not have to struggle to make ends meet.

[Ultrarunner]

Originally Posted by PCALMike

Of course it should be a living wage. Not everyone can become a manager of a business. The average age of minimum wage workers is 35 years old. When you were young in the 1950s, times were very different. The government actually CARED about its people during this period of social democratic rule and a guy like Eisenhower would be considered a far left socialist extremist if he had ran for office today.

Back then men also served in the military... for some it was career and others a gateway to buying a home and getting an education... real skills could be learned such a mechanic, electronics, communication, pilot etc... I do know growing up that just about everyone used their earned benefits.

Thing is they still exist for those that choose... several of our nurses used service to earn their degree... in California, a corpsman can actually challenge the Nursing Board and become a RN...

[Ultrarunner]

Originally Posted by OwlKaMyst

There is no such apartments or even studios available for $350. Well, maybe one...in an extremely bad area and in bad condition, and small as can be.
Last time I rented for $350 was a granny unit, in the bad part of town back in 1988.
If a person work minimum wage, full time they will take home about $1,280. One has to share housing or it is just no doable.

I don't understand it either. It used to be a man could go to work, make enough money to have a family, buy a house and the woman stayed home and cared for the children. Then it got to be where both parents needed to work to afford anything....now it has reached the point where it takes a third income to be able to afford anything.

As goes minimum wage and living wage. Minimum wage should be a living wage. Plenty of places hire and only ever pay minimum wage. A person can work at the same gas station for 5 years and never get a raise. If you are able to work full time, then your income should be able to support you, independently.
I understand minimum wage as a starting wage for people new to a specific field, that makes sense, you get paid more when you have more experience.
But like the gas station job. Someone has to do it and who ever does should not have to struggle to make ends meet.

Story on this this weekend as to where did all the SRO goes... that is single room occupancy buildings in Bay Area cities... there are still a few and one in Oakland's Chinatown charges $450 per month.

They were really common at one time for singles... as were boarding houses.

[J.Thomas]

Originally Posted by OwlKaMyst

There is no such apartments or even studios available for $350. Well, maybe one...in an extremely bad area and in bad condition, and small as can be.
Last time I rented for $350 was a granny unit, in the bad part of town back in 1988.
If a person work minimum wage, full time they will take home about $1,280. One has to share housing or it is just no doable.

I don't understand it either. It used to be a man could go to work, make enough money to have a family, buy a house and the woman stayed home and cared for the children. Then it got to be where both parents needed to work to afford anything....now it has reached the point where it takes a third income to be able to afford anything.

As goes minimum wage and living wage. Minimum wage should be a living wage. Plenty of places hire and only ever pay minimum wage. A person can work at the same gas station for 5 years and never get a raise. If you are able to work full time, then your income should be able to support you, independently.
I understand minimum wage as a starting wage for people new to a specific field, that makes sense, you get paid more when you have more experience.
But like the gas station job. Someone has to do it and who ever does should not have to struggle to make ends meet.

She's from Germany.

You can't even be a homeless in LA even with a minimum wage

People need at least 2 jobs

[Ultrarunner]

SeaTac Washington is the highest minimum at $15.24

$13 for San Francisco, Seattle and Emeryville followed by Oakland at $12.55