Minimum wage in Germany (12.82€) is almost double the US federal one ($7.25). And contrary to popular belief, no, taxes and fees are not massively higher.

[Ed.: actually, thanks to 'recent developments' causing the USD to depreciate, it's pretty exactly double.]

(Only the highest of the local minimum wage setups in the US are slightly higher than the German one, e.g. CA's $16.50)

In the states, part time jobs like 20/hr a week don't pay half as much. They pay closer to an 8th as much.

That's why everyone in the US works full-time if they have the choice. I would HAPPILY work 20/hr a week at half my rate. Such a job just does not exist. I would have to take a huge, huge paycut for that.