Fair depends on skill sets, ambition, a lot of things really. But anything less than $75 an hour…and you won’t see me around, I have better things to do

Interesting thread. A lot of variables in our country to consider. Career jobs v. temp jobs. Bottom line at different times in your life "fair" might be different things. People going to college might take a side job for $20 an hour with no benefits part time just to help out with bills but the same person who has graduated might not take a job in their field for under 72 Thousand a year. The biggest problem I have seen is the cost of insurance and housing. Homes that aren't worth $80 K are selling for $180 K. Almost impossible to try and live on a $20 an hour job and if somehow you can it is not likely there is anything to put away for emergencies or retirement.

I think it’s crazy that the local sawmill advertises starting pay at $22 an hour while people who clean houses (short term rentals) are getting $40 an hour. If you can find someone. There’s probably a thousand str’s from Livingston to Gardiner.

Outsider looking in but $7.25 minimum wage in many places. People have to flip burgers or stock shelves at Walmart all day long just to have that days' pay be enough to buy a new baseball cap. I guess I am on the side, that money like that isn't exactly a fair wage.

Flipping burgers and stocking wal-mart shelves aren't jobs meant to support families.

Learn a trade, get skills, make yourself more valuable.

Too many people are lazy.

A valuable employee:
Show up on time.
Don't quit before quitting time.
Don't fight with coworkers. (leave the crazy at home)

Seems easy but it's not easy to find.

I never said it was a job to support a family. I said it was a wage that isn't overly "fair". However, thinking there are no people in such jobs trying to support a family is foolish.

Not to mention the fact that virtually no one is getting paid those wages. My state has one of if not THE lowest wage in the country and Walmart here starts at $15... fast food not sure now but was over $10 years ago. Minimum wage (a stupid law) determines the least amount a worker can be paid but when no one is willing to work for that, companies must pay more if they need workers. It's been a very long time since I've heard of a job starting at minimum wage... like... over a decade.

Both my parents finished their working careers at Walmart. They didn't have to. What makes you think all the people who work for low wages do it for the money? Lot of retired people do it.

I think the NY minimum is 16, or 17 bucks now.... Hard for a small business to stay in business with the high rents and utilities....

FYI even if somebody is trying to support a family of four on 7.25 an hour, that is not all the income they may be living on.

" For 2025, the federal poverty level (FPL) for a family of four is $32,150.
This figure is used to determine eligibility for various government programs, including Medicaid, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), and the National School Lunch Program."

Throw in EITC and Child credits and probably other stuff.
Section 8 housing

Canada is not the only socialist country on the planet.

Canada has west Virginia wages(average income),,,with San Francisco home prices

,,,,, getting worse by the day

You guys are trying to put words in my mouth, lol. I just simply said that the minimum wage rate in many places "seems unfair" and that some unfortunate people are likely stuck in it. Nothing more really, never said all Walmart workers weren't retired folks etc.

As for the whole Mississippi, minimum wage things, beats me how many work for it, but it's easy to look up and see that the average income in MS is 30% lower than the US average so i am sure the odd soul is. lol

Cost ofiving in Mississippi is also lower.

I don't know many jobs that pay minimum wage. Usually only young kids just starting out and even then many kids still make more than minimum wage.

Pretty obvious a lot off you haven’t run a business that requires more than family or a handful of employees.

Stick to Canada, I don't know anyone who pays minimum wage.

My daughter works at Walmart full time. 23 bucks an hour with insurance.

I have never worked for minimum wage in my life. Every place i worked even washing dishes part time in high-school as a kid payed a dollar or 2 more.

This thread is crazy. How many of the posters have 20 + employees? the issue is what you need to make a living versus what a employer can pay. cost of living does not reflect on what the employer can charge the customer. thus all the tariffs being put on countries. we bring in cheap/child labor crap and have been forced to compete. labor unions are a joke and don't care about this factor. I am in the automotive business. I live it.