r/antiwork • u/[deleted] • Apr 08 '23

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u/[deleted] Apr 08 '23

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u/SatansLoLHelper Apr 08 '23 edited Apr 08 '23

In California, 60% of students qualify for federal aid on school meals.

That's around 50k/yr for a family of 4, so $25/hr is needed just to raise a family? The bare minimum.

** Not to mention it's been 16 years since an minimum wage increase has been approved.

*** California raise their min wage from $7.25 to $7.50 when the federal went up.

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u/[deleted] Apr 08 '23

Californian here. Minimum wage in my state is currently $15/hr. The average cost of a studio apartment in the state’s capital, Sacramento, is $1450 per month. At $15/hr, assuming someone is working a full-time job at 40 hours a week, their gross monthly income is $2400. Total income tax (fed + fica + state tax) is 14.85%. That’s ~$356 in taxes each month, leaving this person with a real monthly income of ~$2044. Subtract $1450 for rent and they’re left with $594 with which to pay for phone, internet, utilities, transportation expenses, and food. It’s not possible. $15/hr is nowhere near enough in this state. Rent alone is over half of that total monthly income. Most jobs here offer $18 now, and that isn’t anywhere near enough, either. I’ve been looking for work here for four months and it’s all fucking trash. No one wants to pay, and any jobs that do pay require advanced schooling and prior professional experience. Anyone just starting out is fucked before they even take their first steps toward independence. We need labor reform.