Why isn't minimum wage always minimum wage?

I am not a supporter of raising the minimum wage.  I do feel that jobs requiring no high school diploma or training should be minimum wage and nothing more.  Those jobs are meant to be jobs while you are in school or experience to get a better job and move into a better work situation.  They are not meant to be careers.  There are those who aren't capable of doing anything more and those jobs are a Godsend to them regardless of the pay.

That being said I am very disturbed that there are some jobs that don't have to pay minimum wage.  First of all waitstaff.    Your waiters and waitresses are not paid minimum wage.  They are expected to make up the difference through their tips.  Only if you don't make enough in tips to bring your wage up to minimum wage does the company have to make up the difference.  This is ridiculous.  A tip is supposed to be given as an indication of excellent service.  It is not supposed to be part of the regular wage.  If service is bad I won't leave a tip but if service is excellent we will leave a large tip. 
Waitstaff should receive minimum wage period and their tips should be a reward for doing their job well.  Tip sharing should be outlawed because the waiter or waitress is the one who serves the customer and receives any customer complaints.

Home health workers and aids.  Not only are they not required to be paid minimum wage they do not have to be paid overtime.  Home health workers are required to take ongoing classes and certify and recertify every couple of years.  Yet they are not required to be paid at least minimum wage.  Because of the training, continuing education and certification requirements I believe that these workers should be paid more than minimum wage and paid overtime at the rate all other workers are paid.  If you want quality people in the field caring for our elderly and infirm then we need to pay them well.

Developmentally disabled.  Just because an adult is developmentally disabled doesn't mean that they shouldn't be paid the same minimum wage as everyone else.  That is discriminatory no ifs ands or buts about it.  They work doing the same jobs as others who are not disabled and should be paid accordingly.  There is no excuse that justifies paying them less. None.

Lets make minimum wage be the standard for all jobs and no one should be allowed to pay less period.  As for higher wages.  Wages should be based on the training, education, job requirements and experience.  So jobs with minimum requirements should receive minimum wage with slightly higher wages being given to those with experience.  If you want a higher wage get training, find a better job or go to school.  If your choice in education can't get you a job in the field you studied you made a poor choice and need to go back to the drawing board and get more training and education.  Period.