In my area, $10 (single only) to $16 per hour minimum. In other areas that wouldn't even come close. It does depend on which part of the country you live in. In some places in the south you might be able to support yourself on $8 per hour and live independently, but probably not if you have dependents.
I wouldn't even want to take a stab at what it would be for California. Northern might be a little better than southern but not by a whole lot.
During the Viet Nam war in the mid '60's, we were able to rent a small, odd little 3-bedroom house in a nice, small town in a decent neighborhood for $75 per month. I was very thankful to have that. That would be impossible today.
I appreciate your answer. Most entry level jobs start below that, but people who are decent employees get raises rapidly at Walmart, Costco etc. Employers value good employees because the costs to replace them are high. Unions limit what good employees can earn and the union protects the bad employee. Why would an employer want to deal with a union?
Sweetehart, I have a very good friend back home in Cleveland who less than a year ago was living at a mission. he took a job doing janitorial work for $9/hr.
Today he has a decent, if small apartment downtown just up the street from his job. he has enough left over to eat out occasionally, see a movie or go to a concert, and indulge in his true love of music. He bought a decent guitar and amp.
So don't come here and tell us that he's not doing pretty good for himself in a short time. Don't gimme that "only in the South" horse hockey. Yoy're not only a socialist, but a horrible elitist - regional and economic - as well.
As my dear Nana would have said...you don't know sh*t from shinola.