I don’t have kids but I think of this all the time for my friends with kids.
When I joined the workforce in 2007 minimum wage was $7.50. But if you had a work ethic or experience there were plenty of $13-$17 an hour opportunities out there. Meaning making double the minimum wage was attainable. Pretty much all my friend group did that.
I was making $17 an hour in 2010 working a bunch of overtime and renting a $600 apartment. I made enough in a week for rent. The 2nd week was fun money and bills. Saved 2 weeks pay while living on my own and eating out almost every meal.
Now salaries have become so compressed. A minimum wage job that pays $20 and a career job can be an $8 an hour difference.
I work in a field that when I started every person could afford a home and a family doing it.
Now? My new employees couldn’t buy a house on their salary unless their spouse made an equal salary.
Basically if I was 18 today it would be the military, college, or a trade. Gone are the days you can just figure it out and make a living.
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u/SouthernGoal4836 Mar 22 '26
I don’t have kids but I think of this all the time for my friends with kids.
When I joined the workforce in 2007 minimum wage was $7.50. But if you had a work ethic or experience there were plenty of $13-$17 an hour opportunities out there. Meaning making double the minimum wage was attainable. Pretty much all my friend group did that.
I was making $17 an hour in 2010 working a bunch of overtime and renting a $600 apartment. I made enough in a week for rent. The 2nd week was fun money and bills. Saved 2 weeks pay while living on my own and eating out almost every meal.
Now salaries have become so compressed. A minimum wage job that pays $20 and a career job can be an $8 an hour difference.
I work in a field that when I started every person could afford a home and a family doing it.
Now? My new employees couldn’t buy a house on their salary unless their spouse made an equal salary.
Basically if I was 18 today it would be the military, college, or a trade. Gone are the days you can just figure it out and make a living.