In 2004 I made $7.35/hour working 35 hours a week. I wasn't eligible for health benefits, so my take home was about $205.80 a week, which was $10,701 a year. On that I paid for an apartment, electricity, basic cable/internet, and food. I didn't get new clothes very often and didn't go out much (I was only 18, not a lot of "going out" options anyway), but I survived. My apartment was $320 in rent (decent-ish area, low crime, older complex) and electricity and cable were $100 combined, on average.
Now, I realize that was 7 years ago...but doing a quick search in that area I could still get an apartment at that rent rate. I might have some difficulties in the electricity area now, though.
In Texas, the current minimum wage is $7.25. When I was 18 it was $5.50. I worked ONE job at minimum wage....as a carphop at Sonic. They said that because people tip, we got minimum wage rates. I usually averaged about $75-150 in tips a week, depending on my schedule. I also worked at Hallmark, 7-11, and an ice rink during high school and made more than minimum wage at all of them.
I think it's possible for a single person to survive on a pay rate at or near minimum wage in many areas. I think it'd be a struggle, and they're not going to have a two-story brick home in a gated subdivision, or a brand new Mercedes in their parking spot...but it's still doable. Then again, the jobs that pay at or very close to minimum wage aren't exactly advancement positions...or even very challenging. Low-paying positions are usually true entry-level, menial tasks, or jobs geared towards people who are seeking as little professional responsibility as possible.
Because of that, I have no problem keeping the minimum wage where it is. These jobs are not designed for people to make a living doing them. They supplemental positions, or positions for those seeking extra or extraneous income. If you're using these jobs to survive on I think the issue is you, not the pay.
I definitely don't support a maximum wage. You stifle growth and recruitment that way. When my former employer announced that there was a pay cap on my position I decided I wouldn't be sticking around. There was no room for growth into other positions and no chance of increasing my salary beyond the cap I had hit. I wasn't content making $35k/year for the rest of my career. If we make a "maximum wage" I'd bet good money that companies would create maximum wages at all levels of employ.
