5 ms·

That kind of life is not achievable on minimum wage, even if you choose to live in a small city

by amrocha 4y ago

HPsquared 4y ago
Only about 1% of workers are on minimum wage, you wouldn't expect an average lifestyle from that.
- glasss 4y ago
  Very anecdotal, but I don't know anyone making minium wage for my area. I do know tons of people making within 1-2 dollars of minimum wage though. If we divvy up the data into groups like that, I wonder how much that 1% jumps.
  - prottog 4y ago
    I don't know how accurate this data is, but this website[0] breaks the US average down to single percentiles, and has detailed data for many metro areas, as well. [0]: https://dqydj.com/average-median-top-household-income-percentiles/ https://dqydj.com/average-median-top-household-income-percen...
- amrocha 4y ago
  The comment I was replying to stated that that lifestyle is achievable for traditionally minimum wage (or close to it) jobs as long as you choose to live in a small city though
  - deleted 4y ago
    [deleted]
prottog 4y ago
I don't see a problem with that, as long as those who may be earning minimum wage at any given time have the opportunity to improve their lot. I see no reason why the lowest incomes would result in median lifestyles.
- xp84 4y ago
  To be clear, I don't think most people expect that either -- but I'd argue that most entry-level jobs today are just a big endless cycle of unskilled labor staying long enough to get fed up and moving to the next dead-end job, with the companies moving on to the next as well. In general, I'd argue minimum wage jobs aren't anymore a stepping stone to some sustainable good job; they're basically viewed like consumables by companies. Even someone with a decade of experience, say, at several retail stores or restaurants, can't expect to be offered a position making $50,000 a year plus benefits just for having done his job well every day. By contrast, a dedicated factory worker with a decade of experience 50 years ago could expect to have advanced somewhat, and would expect continued advancement. Today everyone working in retail, restaurants, etc. all know that if they're going to do any better it's going to be by leaving that sector, via learning a trade, going to college, or perhaps founding their own small business. All things which were good options in the past too, but advancement was once a realistic expectation too.
throwaway2037 4y ago
GP said "barber". You said "minimum wage". I'm confused. GP is saying (I think) that you can live well outside a big city on working class wages.
- amrocha 4y ago
  You're right, I conflated the two in my head. The jobs they listed are jobs associated with minimum wage, or close to it, in my mind.
- bumby 4y ago
  I was about to reply the same and I looked up the BLS data. The median wage for a barber is $14.41. Now I know that's at or below minimum wage in cities, but I suspect it's quite higher the minimum wage in rural areas.

That kind of life is not achievable on minimum wage, even if you choose to live in a small city

HPsquared 4y ago

Only about 1% of workers are on minimum wage, you wouldn't expect an average lifestyle from that.

glasss 4y ago
Very anecdotal, but I don't know anyone making minium wage for my area. I do know tons of people making within 1-2 dollars of minimum wage though. If we divvy up the data into groups like that, I wonder how much that 1% jumps.
- prottog 4y ago
  I don't know how accurate this data is, but this website[0] breaks the US average down to single percentiles, and has detailed data for many metro areas, as well. [0]: https://dqydj.com/average-median-top-household-income-percentiles/ https://dqydj.com/average-median-top-household-income-percen...
amrocha 4y ago
The comment I was replying to stated that that lifestyle is achievable for traditionally minimum wage (or close to it) jobs as long as you choose to live in a small city though
- deleted 4y ago
  [deleted]

prottog 4y ago

I don't see a problem with that, as long as those who may be earning minimum wage at any given time have the opportunity to improve their lot. I see no reason why the lowest incomes would result in median lifestyles.

xp84 4y ago
To be clear, I don't think most people expect that either -- but I'd argue that most entry-level jobs today are just a big endless cycle of unskilled labor staying long enough to get fed up and moving to the next dead-end job, with the companies moving on to the next as well. In general, I'd argue minimum wage jobs aren't anymore a stepping stone to some sustainable good job; they're basically viewed like consumables by companies. Even someone with a decade of experience, say, at several retail stores or restaurants, can't expect to be offered a position making $50,000 a year plus benefits just for having done his job well every day. By contrast, a dedicated factory worker with a decade of experience 50 years ago could expect to have advanced somewhat, and would expect continued advancement. Today everyone working in retail, restaurants, etc. all know that if they're going to do any better it's going to be by leaving that sector, via learning a trade, going to college, or perhaps founding their own small business. All things which were good options in the past too, but advancement was once a realistic expectation too.

throwaway2037 4y ago

GP said "barber". You said "minimum wage". I'm confused. GP is saying (I think) that you can live well outside a big city on working class wages.

amrocha 4y ago
You're right, I conflated the two in my head. The jobs they listed are jobs associated with minimum wage, or close to it, in my mind.
bumby 4y ago
I was about to reply the same and I looked up the BLS data. The median wage for a barber is $14.41. Now I know that's at or below minimum wage in cities, but I suspect it's quite higher the minimum wage in rural areas.