The average family income of United States employees who would 'benefit' from the new $6.55 minimum wage is nearly $44,635. The 70 cent bump that went into effect on July 24, 2008, is the second step in a 41% increase in the starting wage.

According to U.S. Census Bureau data, fully 85% of employees in United States whose wages would be increased by the proposed minimum wage hike either live with their parents or another relative, live alone, or have a working spouse. Just 15% are sole earners in families with children, and each of these sole earners has access to supplemental income through the Earned Income Tax Credit.

Regardless of the economic conditions that will be facing the country next summer, the federal minimum wage will rise again next July, making it more difficult for the low-skilled workforce to find a job.

Distribution of Workers Affected by the new $6.55 Minimum Wage

United States	42 %	18 %	25 %	85 %	15 %	$ 44,635
Alabama	31 %	23 %	27 %	81 %	19 %	$ 33,412
Alaska	–	–	–	–	–	–
Arizona	–	–	–	–	–	–
Arkansas	44 %	17 %	25 %	86 %	14 %	$ 41,218
California	–	–	–	–	–	–
Colorado	–	–	–	–	–	–
Connecticut	–	–	–	–	–	–
D.C.	–	–	–	–	–	–
Delaware	–	–	–	–	–	–
Florida	–	–	–	–	–	–
Georgia	36 %	22 %	24 %	82 %	18 %	$ 44,316
Hawaii	–	–	–	–	–	–
Idaho	56 %	24 %	13 %	93 %	7 %	$ 52,340
Illinois	–	–	–	–	–	–
Indiana	50 %	16 %	24 %	89 %	11 %	$ 58,162
Iowa	–	–	–	–	–	–
Kansas	46 %	13 %	34 %	92 %	8 %	$ 49,865
Kentucky	–	–	–	–	–	–
Louisiana	31 %	19 %	26 %	76 %	24 %	$ 34,877
Maine	–	–	–	–	–	–
Maryland	68 %	0 %	24 %	92 %	8 %	$ 79,088
Massachusetts	–	–	–	–	–	–
Michigan	–	–	–	–	–	–
Minnesota	59 %	12 %	21 %	92 %	8 %	$ 66,380
Mississippi	30 %	17 %	29 %	76 %	24 %	$ 34,646
Missouri	–	–	–	–	–	–
Montana	60 %	3 %	23 %	87 %	13 %	$ 44,889
Nebraska	56 %	17 %	25 %	98 %	2 %	$ 45,045
Nevada	–	–	–	–	–	–
New Hampshire	63 %	10 %	27 %	100 %	0 %	$ 86,398
New Jersey	–	–	–	–	–	–
New Mexico	44 %	22 %	21 %	88 %	12 %	$ 34,728
New York	–	–	–	–	–	–
North Carolina	47 %	15 %	30 %	92 %	8 %	$ 37,908
North Dakota	48 %	14 %	37 %	99 %	1 %	$ 43,775
Ohio	–	–	–	–	–	–
Oklahoma	42 %	13 %	29 %	84 %	16 %	$ 40,444
Oregon	–	–	–	–	–	–
Pennsylvania	–	–	–	–	–	–
Rhode Island	–	–	–	–	–	–
South Carolina	53 %	9 %	29 %	91 %	9 %	$ 43,525
South Dakota	64 %	20 %	12 %	95 %	5 %	$ 54,492
Tennessee	32 %	20 %	29 %	82 %	18 %	$ 38,460
Texas	37 %	22 %	23 %	83 %	17 %	$ 41,046
Utah	56 %	17 %	23 %	96 %	4 %	$ 59,297
Vermont	–	–	–	–	–	–
Virginia	53 %	18 %	18 %	89 %	11 %	$ 62,472
Washington	–	–	–	–	–	–
West Virginia	38 %	21 %	18 %	77 %	23 %	$ 43,074
Wisconsin	52 %	13 %	17 %	82 %	18 %	$ 56,952
Wyoming	51 %	20 %	16 %	87 %	13 %	$ 54,901