Check out the table below for current minimum wages:

• The US federally mandated hourly minimum wage = $7.25 (totals $15,080 for 52 weeks); has not changed since 7/2009.
• California mandated hourly minimum wage(Links to an external site.) = $15.00 (totals $31,200) for companies with 26+ employees; $14.00 (totals $29,120) for companies with 25 employees or less - effective 1/1/2022.
• San Francisco mandated hourly minimum wage(Links to an external site.) = $15.80 (totals $32,864) effective 1/1/2022.
• San Jose mandated hourly minimum wage(Links to an external site.) = $16.20 (totals $33,696) effective 1/1/2022.

The 2022 federal poverty guideline(Links to an external site.) for a family of 2 is $18,310 so any family of 2 or more making less than that would be considered "below the poverty line."

Do you think the federal minimum wage should be higher than $7.25 per hour? Support your answer.