5 Things You can Buy in WA with One Hour of Minimum Wage

$7.25. That's the federal minimum wage. That's the absolute least amount you can get paid legally allowed by the government is $7.25.

According to L&I the minimum wage in Yakima is about $15 an hour. That's a lot more than the $4 an hour I was making in the 90s but that's another story. Let's say if you're in Yakima and making $15 an hour. $15.74 to be exact for 2023. Here are a few things you can basically trade one hour of your life working for 'the man' in exchange for something cool.

About 3 gallons of gas.

3 gallons of gas isn't a lot but it may just be enough to take you from Yakima to Ellensburg.

A quality 4-pack of your favorite craft ale.

Whether it's something from Bale Breaker in Yakima or Fremont in Seattle, if you find those tall cans in a 4-pack, they usually run, on average, $15.

A cubano (at most places)

You know what I love a cubano; everything! (sorry I didn't get you time to respond, I love them so much) A cubano or sometimes just called a Cuban sandwich is pork and ham with cheese on quality bread with pickles and mustard. I don't care for mustard so I get mine without but I still love them. Most places I see these on the menu will run around $15 for lunch. Sure, you can also get lunch favorites for about the same price like a french dip or even fish and chips, but if a cubano is on the menu, it's what I'm probably getting.

A movie ticket or two

In Yakima, it depends on where you go. If you go to the Orion Cinema, you'd be looking at $18 a ticket with the luxury of also eating and drinking while watching a movie, but if you wanted to see a film at the Majestic, you could buy two tickets for less than $15. Sure, you'd have to bring more for popcorn, but just enjoying the film shouldn't be a problem.

About a Dozen Doughnuts

Much like the doughnuts themselves, prices of doughnuts have been on the rise these past few years. I remember when doughnuts were about .50-$1 each. Now they go for more than twice that. If you order a few, you may as well save money by getting a dozen. Some places still have basic dozens for about $15 with premium dozens going for a few bucks more. Sure, some stores have a dozen for $10 or so as well so just gotta shop around.