Minimum-Wage Jobs Can Start You on a Career Path by Anthony Balderrama, CareerBuilder.com writer
As of July 24, the federal minimum wage is $7.25 per hour, an increase of 70 cents from last year's rate. The change might seem insignificant, but that amount multiplied over 40 hours per week for an entire year would be a welcome boost to anyone's bank account. Now, someone earning minimum wage and working full time will have an annual income of $15,080.
Jobs that pay the minimum wage are everywhere, and most of us have held one of these positions at some point in our careers. Both part-time and full-time jobs can pay the minimum wage, and they can be steppingstones toward professional goals or careers in their own rights.
Not surprisingly, our culture likes to focus on dollar signs. Look at our entertainment -- "The Hills," "The Real Housewives of [Insert City Here]." We're preoccupied with moving up and on to bigger things, which usually translates into something richer and fancier than we currently have. Perhaps that's why we often overlook the value of minimum-wage jobs. We're quick to forget that minimum-wage jobs are often our first forays into the work force, and they provide paychecks at a time when many people are having difficulty finding employment.
Here are some quick facts about the minimum-wage work force, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics:
- Half of minimum-wage employees are under 25.
- Two percent of men paid hourly earn less than the federal minimum wage, while 4 percent of women earn less.
- The leisure and hospitality industry has the largest amount of hourly paid employees working at or below the federal minimum wage.
We thought we'd highlight some jobs that earn minimum wage. Often, these positions are good starts to professional lives. Each position has its own requirements and can lead to different paths, many of which you probably didn't think of.
Note: You or someone you know might have one of these positions and earn well above the minimum wage. Earnings differ by location, employer and experience. Also, some positions can earn the minimum wage plus tips, which can have a substantial effect on total earnings.
Here is a sample of jobs that earn the federal minimum wage:
Cafeteria attendant
What they do: Bus tables, take dirty dishes to the kitchen and make sure enough clean silverware and linens are available in a cafeteria.
Training needed: Training varies by employer.
Career path: Cafeteria attendants are privy to behind-the-scenes glimpses of dining facilities and might decide to work toward managerial roles in the food industry.
Fast food worker
What they do: Prepare food and take customers' orders.
Training needed: Varies by employer, though good communication skills are a plus.
Career path: For workers who interact with customers frequently, their customer service skills are good preparation for sales jobs.
Gaming services workers
What they do: Assist dealers, managers and supervisors by attending to customer needs.
Training needed: Varies by position and employer, but high school diploma and customer service skills are normally required, and possibly a gaming license.
Career path: There are several gaming positions that you can be promoted to, and ultimately you could rise to manager or higher.
Baggage porters and bellhops
What they do: Assist hotel guests with their baggage and take them to their rooms.
Training needed: Training varies by employer, but good communication skills are helpful.
Career path: Porters and bellhops are often the first entry into the hospitality and resort industry for many workers who go on to be managers.
Bartenders
What they do: Prepare and serve drinks to patrons.
Training needed: Extensive knowledge on drink preparation and excellent customer service skills.
Career path: You can make a career out of bartending, but you can also use your knowledge of the bar scene to start your own bar or club.
Salary data based on information from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Anthony Balderrama is a writer and blogger for CareerBuilder.com and its job blog, The Work Buzz. He researches and writes about job search strategy, career management, hiring trends and workplace issues. Follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/abalderrama.
As of July 24, the federal minimum wage is $7.25 per hour, an increase of 70 cents from last year's rate. The change might seem insignificant, but that amount multiplied over 40 hours per week for an entire year would be a welcome boost to anyone's bank account. Now, someone earning minimum wage and working full time will have an annual income of $15,080.
Jobs that pay the minimum wage are everywhere, and most of us have held one of these positions at some point in our careers. Both part-time and full-time jobs can pay the minimum wage, and they can be steppingstones toward professional goals or careers in their own rights.
Not surprisingly, our culture likes to focus on dollar signs. Look at our entertainment -- "The Hills," "The Real Housewives of [Insert City Here]." We're preoccupied with moving up and on to bigger things, which usually translates into something richer and fancier than we currently have. Perhaps that's why we often overlook the value of minimum-wage jobs. We're quick to forget that minimum-wage jobs are often our first forays into the work force, and they provide paychecks at a time when many people are having difficulty finding employment.
Here are some quick facts about the minimum-wage work force, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics:
- Half of minimum-wage employees are under 25.
- Two percent of men paid hourly earn less than the federal minimum wage, while 4 percent of women earn less.
- The leisure and hospitality industry has the largest amount of hourly paid employees working at or below the federal minimum wage.
We thought we'd highlight some jobs that earn minimum wage. Often, these positions are good starts to professional lives. Each position has its own requirements and can lead to different paths, many of which you probably didn't think of.
Note: You or someone you know might have one of these positions and earn well above the minimum wage. Earnings differ by location, employer and experience. Also, some positions can earn the minimum wage plus tips, which can have a substantial effect on total earnings.
Here is a sample of jobs that earn the federal minimum wage:
Cafeteria attendant
What they do: Bus tables, take dirty dishes to the kitchen and make sure enough clean silverware and linens are available in a cafeteria.
Training needed: Training varies by employer.
Career path: Cafeteria attendants are privy to behind-the-scenes glimpses of dining facilities and might decide to work toward managerial roles in the food industry.
Fast food worker
What they do: Prepare food and take customers' orders.
Training needed: Varies by employer, though good communication skills are a plus.
Career path: For workers who interact with customers frequently, their customer service skills are good preparation for sales jobs.
Gaming services workers
What they do: Assist dealers, managers and supervisors by attending to customer needs.
Training needed: Varies by position and employer, but high school diploma and customer service skills are normally required, and possibly a gaming license.
Career path: There are several gaming positions that you can be promoted to, and ultimately you could rise to manager or higher.
Baggage porters and bellhops
What they do: Assist hotel guests with their baggage and take them to their rooms.
Training needed: Training varies by employer, but good communication skills are helpful.
Career path: Porters and bellhops are often the first entry into the hospitality and resort industry for many workers who go on to be managers.
Bartenders
What they do: Prepare and serve drinks to patrons.
Training needed: Extensive knowledge on drink preparation and excellent customer service skills.
Career path: You can make a career out of bartending, but you can also use your knowledge of the bar scene to start your own bar or club.
Salary data based on information from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Anthony Balderrama is a writer and blogger for CareerBuilder.com and its job blog, The Work Buzz. He researches and writes about job search strategy, career management, hiring trends and workplace issues. Follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/abalderrama.
Anthony Balderrama is a writer and blogger for CareerBuilder.com and its job blog, The Work Buzz. He researches and writes about job search strategy, career management, hiring trends and workplace issues. Follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/abalderrama.
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