The federal minimum wage remains $7.25 an hour.

On minimum wage one can expect to make less than $14,000 a year. I spend a great deal more than $14,000 a year.

“You’re not expected to hold a minimum wage job forever.” seems to be the going concern. Many states have increased their minimum wages beyond 7.25, but eighteen states still pay at the federal level. 120 million people (36% of Americans) live where companies believe $7.25 is a reasonable wage.

What jobs pay minimum wage? Service industries are a large culprit. Servers make $2 an hour and make the majority of their income from tips (which are taxed when reported). Retail associates, cleaners, caregivers, delivery drivers, garden variety menial labor positions to name a few. Some companies incentivize workers with higher pay and benefits but they’re not legally obligated to.

The narrative goes: a person starts at the bottom, and works their way towards higher pay via promotions in the company. Perhaps there’s bonuses, higher titles to achieve, and throughout the worker’s career they find fulfillment in a company, and are rewarded for their loyalty with a seamless transition to retirement.

I call bullshit.

Since I’ve joined the workforce, I’ve worked a minimum wage job on three occasions. My first job at an office supply store paid the state’s minimum wage which I believe was $8 and change. My first real paycheck amounted to $36. This was a moment I realized the long shaft of life had began it’s eternal penetration. Throughout my professional escapades I have grown more prudent. A job may present itself well, however if the pay is inadequate I decline the offer. Unfortunately, this attitude prolongs the job search.

With so many opportunities for professional development via certification and education, there’s no excuses why a person stagnates in a dead end position.

Again. Bullshit.

The resources needed to acquire degrees and certificates are unstable at best. If a company is unwilling to even partially fund a specialized training, how many people would participate?

To illustrate: I started college in the fall of 2019.
I finish my degree in Spring 2025 and the world has drastically changed in between.
Events like COVID, natural disasters, and the political environment have shifted to a point where I question the value of “self-investment.” One truth remains despite the array of policy changes, law amendments, and human rights violations. Money talks.

At the cost of self investment, I’ve balanced multiple part-time jobs around a school schedule. Over the last 5 and a half years, the total amounts to over two dozen jobs:

• Some were lost to COVID
• Several stints of contracted work
• Seven I quit
• Five I was fired
• Two I still currently work

Five years later and I’m barely surviving. I have $0.00 in savings My credit score is 545. I am close to 75,000 in collective debt and I’m behind on my bills. Here I am at 27 years old finishing the pursuit of my Bachelor’s degree. $50,000 of my debt is student loans. The rest is uncategorized debt via car, friends, and medical bills.

There’s never enough money to get ahead. What the fuck am I working for? I’m not convinced this college degree is going to unlock some magical income that would have not found me otherwise. I think I wasted my time, and financially dug a hole that’s going to take a lot of time to crawl out of.