Minimum wage in the U.S.A. is currently $7.25 per hour. State laws passed to increase minimum wage in a state does trump the national minimum wage law as does city municipalities with special legislation passed, such as the cities of San Francisco and San Jose who have both increased minimum wage for workers in their cities. Caregiverlist provides the minimum wage in each state.
Caregivers working for professional senior care companies have an average pay nationwide of $10 per hour, higher than the national minimum wage of $7.25 per hour.
Payroll taxes are also paid on top of the hourly rate, providing for unemployment benefits (seniors who need care will eventually get better and no longer need care or pass away and so having the safety net of knowing unemployment insurance will be provided while a caregiver finds a new job is an important benefit for caregivers). Worker’s compensation insurance and Social Security benefits are also paid for on top of the caregiver salary.
The Fair Minimum Wage Act of 2013, the name of the proposed legislation, would also gradually raise the minimum wage for tipped workers which currently stands at $2.13 per hour. This would be the first raise for this group of workers in more than 20 years……..I was a waitress to pay my way through college and I remember the $2 dollars and change was just enough to pay a bit towards the taxes. The proposed increase would make the tipped worker wage 70% of the minimum wage.
As senior caregivers are needed for new positions at senior care companies nationwide, passing a higher federal minimum wage will only help promote quality pay for quality care for America’s seniors.
State minimum wage laws vary, with many states requiring $8 or more per hour already. Review state minimum wage laws.
Caregivers earn more than minimum wage, even with no formal caregiving experience. Apply for a senior caregiver job, either part-time or full-time, in your area and refer-a-friend to be a caregiver as more caregivers are always needed to keep up with the growing caregiving needs as our senior population increases. Caregivers can obtain online caregiver training to become a professional certified senior caregiver through the Professional Association of Caregivers.
