Since the purpose is to be a minimum wage to live in, it means a wage expected for low-skill jobs. $18/hr is also a typical American salary for a new teacher [

Since the purpose is to be a minimum wage to live in, it means a wage expected for low-skill jobs. $18/hr is also a typical American salary for a new teacher [1], or $25+ with more experience, and I don't think working in an upscale restaurant should pay better. [1] Many hits on Google.