Introduction
New York’s minimum wage is currently $7.25 an hour, which equals the federal minimum wage. The neighboring states of Connecticut, Vermont, and Massachusetts all have higher minimum wages than New York currently. A person working 40 hours a week for 52 straight weeks would earn $15,080 a year, and many workers making the minimum wage aren’t scheduled to work that many hours in a week or work that many weeks, meaning that they likely make less than $15,000 a year. Given the high cost of living, especially in New York City and surrounding counties, making just $15,000 a year, even for a single person without dependents, means having barely enough to provide basic needs or afford one’s rent.
File:
IDC Minimum Wage Report 2013
