Minimum Wage stats ...

The post below about a job offer got me thinking about this.

The minimum wage up here in Alberta just jumped up to $15 per hour (Cdn dollars for what they're worth). So that would equate out to just shy of $12 USD per hour. Right next door to us in Saskatchewan, I think their minimum wage is just over $11 Cdn. Quite a difference between the two provinces. Hard to compare country to country considering all the factors that determine just how much spending power that really gives a person but it is interesting. So a kid in Grade ten drops into some fast food joint, fills in an application and gets a job and starts at $15 so he picks up $120 for an eight hour shift.

The link below has an interesting bar graph with the American states listed. Once you get into the chart, you can click on a window to show the remaining states. Interesting stats, and for sure quite a difference down south from the top to the bottom dollar amounts.
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I wonder how Lousiana got left out of that chart? I was looking at all the states around Texas and they ain't there.

The paragraph on the right says a few states don't have minimum wage laws, Louisiana is one of them.

I noticed that the Federal minimum wage is noted to be $7.25 per hour and that amount shows up for a number of states. Not sure how that applies if a state doesn't have its own. I've never heard of a federal minimum wage up here. Small business owners up here always scream out when the minimum wage jumps, but I suppose they eventually pass it along to customers one way or the other. Like a lot of systems, the price system has its flaws.

There is a Federal minimum wage in Canada, but it is pretty redundant. All industries/businesses that fall under Federal jurisdiction are mandated to pay the minimum wage of whatever province their employees are based in which will then be categorized as federal wage, basically a pointless law.

Yeah but what I don't understand is if it's the federal minimum wage then why don't federal employees get paid that?! I mean think about it, they're supposed to work for us right? Who pays their employees more than they themselves make? Base pay for a congressman is 174,000$ that well over eighty dollars and hour and in my humble opinion we're not getting our moneys worth. I would like to see a law or amendment that says all ELECTED officials have to work for that wage. I think the federal employees that aren't elected are the ones that do the heavy lifting that keeps this country going, and should be paid in accordance with prevailing wages for the occupation they're in. Just a reoccurring thought I have.

JD

here in north central Indiana i don't think you could find anyone to sit around and do nothing all day for the minimum wage.

young bucks can take home 80000/year working RV. so it trickles down to all sectors and increases everyone's wages. that is as long as the RV economy stays strong... don't know who buys them all.

of course those young bucks live at home... then get a new diesel truck... then sup it up ... then get a girlfriend... then... wait.. where's my $??

and some are smarter... work a year or so and save and college is paid for debt free..

(quoted from post at 07:10:07 10/04/18) Yeah but what I don't understand is if it's the federal minimum wage then why don't federal employees get paid that?! I mean think about it, they're supposed to work for us right? Who pays their employees more than they themselves make? Base pay for a congressman is 174,000$ that well over eighty dollars and hour and in my humble opinion we're not getting our moneys worth. I would like to see a law or amendment that says all ELECTED officials have to work for that wage. I think the federal employees that aren't elected are the ones that do the heavy lifting that keeps this country going, and should be paid in accordance with prevailing wages for the occupation they're in. Just a reoccurring thought I have.

JD

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Actually they make way more that 80 an hour considering the number of hours actually working. Going out and trying to get reelected is on their own time......or should be. Then they 1: don't work as many days as you would normally think and 2: often don't put in full days.

Rick

(quoted from post at 07:10:07 10/04/18) Yeah but what I don't understand is if it's the federal minimum wage then why don't federal employees get paid that?! I mean think about it, they're supposed to work for us right? Who pays their employees more than they themselves make? Base pay for a congressman is 174,000$ that well over eighty dollars and hour and in my humble opinion we're not getting our moneys worth. I would like to see a law or amendment that says all ELECTED officials have to work for that wage. I think the federal employees that aren't elected are the ones that do the heavy lifting that keeps this country going, and should be paid in accordance with prevailing wages for the occupation they're in. Just a reoccurring thought I have.

JD

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We should pay them MORE. Whatever it takes so that they don't feel the need to resort to taking money under the table from special interests.

Problem is, there is no amount. For sure being paid minimum wage wouldn't keep them honest. It would drive them straight to taking bribes, paybacks, "graft" from wherever it was offered.

I agree Barnyard, it won't make them honest and they'll still be taking bribes; but at least that way maybe us average Joes can afford to buy a politician. Heh heh.

JD

Barnyard ...... I'm wondering if you could pass along an example of a guy working for minimum wage that
would be in the loop to accept bribes, paybacks, graft, etc. And who would offer it to him and for what? I
just can't seem to see that happening or even imagine a situation where it would be happening.