Sidekick Speaks: Time to raise minimum wage

Prathi Tamara Sathish Kumar, Neev Chickermane, Saanvi Singh, Z Woodson, and Samara George • November 17, 2025

High schoolers often have a job for which they earn minimum wage or youth sub-minimum wage. Five The Sidekick staffers argue for Texas to raise the minimum wage.

Texas adopted the federal minimum wage rate of $7.25 an hour in 2009 and has maintained it since. This includes a youth sub-minimum wage of $4.25 per hour for the first 90 days of employment. For many teens, getting a job is a rite of passage and the first glimpse into adulthood. As a result, many have strong opinions on minimum wage and the money they earn. Read more to hear what The Sidekick staffers have to say:

Neev Chickermane

Getting a job as a teenager can be helpful when it comes to having a source of income while being able to focus on school. The problem comes when students are having to work their jobs almost every single day of the week, while getting paid only $4.25. Many work for experience while some work for the ability to put it into college savings or even provide for their family, and if this amount is not raised or changed, many teen demographics will suffer. I have many friends who work at shops around Coppell who are tired of working all day on Saturday or nine-to-five every other day while making only $15 a week. Youth salaries must be increased to help the teenagers not only have a semi-stable form of income, but also teach them about the foundations of personal finance that are necessary in the adult world.

Saanvi Singh

Getting your first job as a teenager is notably a humbling experience as many have felt the feeling of checking their first paycheck and being let down.

Teenagers who work have to balance school, grades and a normal social life which can leave some with packed schedules. The disappointment after sacrificing time with your friends just to get a small paycheck can feel disappointing.

What isn’t looked at is how these experiences can teach skills such as saving money and time management. Common fast food places give teenagers wages of $4.50 plus any tips they manage to get.

Though the money may seem small, the life experiences and work friends teenagers can receive at jobs can make up for the lost time and make their experience feel less pointless.

Z Woodson

Having a job as a teenager is an exciting thing to look forward to as you get older. The responsibility is rewarding preparation for adulthood. However, the expectations of getting to buy the things that you want shatters with your first paycheck. Instead of stepping into a rich future, you work weekends and after school just to afford whatever it is you want or need. The youth sub-minimum wage means that if you were to work three hours after school weekdays, and eight hours on weekends you would make $131 a week and $525 a month. If you were working to save, you would have to work two years just to afford one year of college. Even the adult minimum wage is not enough to afford the necessities for either individuals or family. Some people are not able to get jobs that pay well for reasons such as disabilities and insufficient education. These people still deserve to be able to provide for themselves and their families. Minimum wage should be raised so that everyone can be more independent.

Samara George

In 2009, a Big Mac cost $3.58, but today that same sandwich costs $5.79; nearly 80% of an hour’s work. Paying someone $7.25 and saying, “Good luck, hope you don’t like Big Macs,” isn’t the American dream.

In Texas, the minimum wage has not changed in 16 years, while inflation has risen 50%. An item that cost $1 in 2009 would now cost $1.50 in 2025. The minimum wage would have to be $10.93 per hour, just to keep up with the same purchasing power we saw in 2009.

The minimum wage for teens is even tougher, with $4.25 per hour. Jobs are meant to give teens freedom, but when a paycheck can’t even cover snacks from a vending machine, independence does not really seem that fun.

By increasing the minimum wage, we can help teens plan for their future, create a stronger economy and make sure everyone can afford a taste of a Big Mac.

Story compiled by Staff Writer Prathi Tamara Sathish Kumar.

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About the Contributors

Prathi Tamara Sathish Kumar, Staff Writer

Prathi Tamara Sathish Kumar is a Junior and a second year staff writer for The Sidekick. After reading the print editions of The Sidekick her freshman year, Prathi discovered an interest in being the one to weave those stories. A lifelong lover of words, she started off believing she would only be a writer; however, Prathi is now very fascinated with design, podcasts and multimedia. She loves to use different varieties of storytelling as new and exciting ways to convey information and emotion. When she’s not writing songs and stories, you can find her reading and watching rom-coms bursting with clichés or listening to a playlist full of music that would get her labeled a “basic” pop princess (with artists including Taylor Swift, Olivia Rodrigo, Sabrina Carpenter and more). You can contact Prathi at [email protected] or on Instagram (@Prathi_Sathish).

Neev Chickermane, Staff Writer

Neev Chickermane is a junior and second-year staff writer for The Sidekick. After joining this program because he had a free elective period during his sophomore year, he found a love for all parts of the program. He especially loves writing feature and news stories and exploring the stories around the community. In his free time, you can find him playing Brawl Stars, studying or listening to his favorite artists, Tame Impala and Saint Motel. He is part of Boy Scouts and also likes to participate in the Poetry Society. His favorite shows are “Stranger Things”and “My Life with the Walter Boys”. Neev is a fanatic of capybaras and loves everything about them. He even has a shirt. If you bring anything capybara related to him, he will be extremely happy. Feel free to contact him by email at [email protected] or on Instagram (@ap_hug_lover).

Saanvi Singh, Staff Writer

Saanvi Singh is a senior and a 2nd year staff writer for The Sidekick. After being recommended to join The Sidekick by a family friend, Saanvi has expanded her horizons on storytelling through graphic design and making comics. When she is not creating art for The Sidekick, she loves working on digital art or listening to tuvs’ latest album in her free time. Her all time favorite album is “Ear Candy.” She has a love for all things medical and has the goal of pursuing a career in nursing after high school. You can contact her via email ([email protected]) or Instagram (@every1luvsaanvi)

Z Woodson, Staff Writer

Z Woodson is a sophomore and first-year staff writer for The Sidekick. Z was interested in The Sidekick because they love to write. Since joining The Sidekick, they have also started to do design. When not in The Sidekick, they like to play guitar, write songs, obsess over Conan Gray and various other forms of media, such as How to Train Your Dragon, Brooklyn 99 and Miraculous. You can contact them at [email protected] or @zayn.the.star on Instagram

Samara George, Staff Writer

Samara George is a sophomore and first-year staff writer on The Sidekick. She joined the program to pursue her passion for sharing her ideas through writing. When she’s not working on a story, you can find her rewatching comfort shows like Curious George or Gilmore Girls, shopping at Hollister, or scrolling on Pinterest. You can contact Samara through email at [email protected] or on Instagram (@samara_george.2010)

Coppell Student Media

Coppell Student Media

Coppell Student Media

Sidekick Speaks: Time to raise minimum wage

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