Raise Iowa’s minimum wage

With prices going up around the world, the minimum wage should be raised. As of right now the minimum wage in Iowa is set at $7.25 an hour. In 2021 the price of average living costs went up by 0.8% in the Cedar Rapids area alone, with the biggest increases in transportation, housing, and food.

The average cost of living for one person in Cedar Rapids is $1,406 a month. If you were working 40 hours a week on minimum wage, you would only make around $1,208 per month. You wouldn’t be able to pay for living cost if you were living alone. Sure, if you are still living with your parents you wouldn’t have to pay for rent, but what about the people who are not living with their parents?

If the minimum wage was raised to $10 an hour and you worked 40 hours a week, after a month of working you would make $1,667. That would be enough to pay for living costs monthly. As well as starting saving money or having money to be able to go out with friends and family. This is not saying the person will be smart when making money choices, but the person would at least be given a chance to be able to make a living.

Kole Wright

Manchester