When adjusted for inflation, the federal minimum wage has hovered around seven dollars since the 1970’s.
The cost of living, however, has not remained stagnant. In 1970, the median cost of rent was $670 a month (adjusted for inflation). Now, it’s $934.
And if you’d like to go to college, you’ll probably need to take on thousands of dollars in debt to afford it. The average cost of one year of tuition and fees at a four-year public college has nearly quadrupled from $2,600 in 1979 to $9,650 in 2016 (again, the figure from the 70’s here has been adjusted for inflation).
Thankfully, low-wage workers in many parts of America will soon see some economic relief, as the minimum wage is set to increase in 21 states and 22 cities in 2017.
The biggest bump is in Arizona, where the minimum wage will be raised 24% from $8.05 to $10. In most cases, though, the minimum wage will only be raised by about a dime or so.
Earning ten cents more an hour may not sound like anything significant, but it adds up. With an extra $50 a month, you can afford to go out and see a movie once in a while. You can replace your kid’s worn-out kicks with a brand new pair. It’s not nearly enough if you’re really struggling, as many families are, but it’s something, at least.
By the end of 2017, the minimum wage will be raised to the following amounts in these states:
- Alaska – $9.80
- Arizona – $10.00
- Arkansas – $8.50
- California – $10.00
- Colorado – $9.30
- Connecticut – $10.10
- Florida – $8.10
- Hawaii – $9.25
- Maine – $9.00
- Maryland – $9.25
- Massachusetts – $11.00
- Michigan – $8.90
- Missouri – $7.70
- Montana – $8.15
- New Jersey – $8.44
- New York – $9.70
- Ohio – $8.15
- Oregon – $10.25
- South Dakota – $8.65
- Vermont – $10.00
- Washington – $11.00
As for the 22 cities:
- Cupertino, CA – $12.00
- El Cerrito, CA – $12.25
- Los Altos, CA – $12.00
- Mountain View, CA – $13.00
- Oakland, CA – $12.86
- Palo Alto, CA – $12.00
- Richmond, CA – $12.30
- Sacramento, CA – $10.50
- San Diego, CA – $11.50
- San Mateo, CA – $12.00
- San Jose, CA – $10.50
- Santa Clara, CA – $11.10
- Sunnyvale, CA – $13.00
- Seattle, WA – $15.00
- SeaTac, WA – $15.35
- Tacoma, WA – $11.15
- Albuquerque, NM – $8.80
- Bernalillo, NM – $8.70
- Las Cruces, NM – $9.20
- Portland, ME – $10.68
- Westchester, NY – $10.00
- New York City, NY – $11.00
Featured image via WHJG.
