In his eight years at Dunkin Donuts in Hartford, Conn., Kevin Burgos worked his way up to the position of assistant manager. Yet the father of three is $600 in the hole every month. His hourly wage of $10.50 isn't enough to cover even his basic needs, which includes rent, gas and the cost of diapers for his 6-month-old daughter.

Working full-time at Dunkin Donuts, he is eligible for health insurance, but he can't afford to pay for it. Instead, he pays out of pocket every time he gets sick. Luckily, his children are on public assistance for their medical care.

Just to pay for necessities, Burgos would have to bring in $17.19 an hour, nearly $7 more per hour than his current wages.

"What I make now is really not a living wage," he said. "I'm stressed out every month and I'm always worried about what tomorrow's going to bring."