The living wage shown is the hourly rate that an individual in a household must earn to support his or herself and their family. The assumption is the sole provider is working full-time (2080 hours per year). The tool provides information for individuals, and households with one or two working adults and zero to three children. In the case of households with two working adults, all values are per working adult, single or in a family unless otherwise noted.
The state minimum wage is the same for all individuals, regardless of how many dependents they may have. Data are updated annually, in the first quarter of the new year. State minimum wages are determined based on the posted value of the minimum wage as of January one of the coming year (National Conference of State Legislatures, 2019). The poverty rate reflects a person's gross annual income. We have converted it to an hourly wage for the sake of comparison.
For further detail, please reference the technical documentation here.
| 1 ADULT | 2 ADULTS (1 WORKING) | 2 ADULTS (BOTH WORKING) | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0Children | 1Child | 2Children | 3Children | 0Children | 1Child | 2Children | 3Children | 0Children | 1Child | 2Children | 3Children | |
| Living Wage | $21.24 | $43.44 | $56.48 | $76.34 | $32.30 | $40.25 | $45.21 | $52.28 | $16.15 | $23.81 | $30.06 | $37.92 |
| Poverty Wage | $6.53 | $8.80 | $11.07 | $13.34 | $8.80 | $11.07 | $13.34 | $15.61 | $4.40 | $5.54 | $6.67 | $7.81 |
| Minimum Wage | $15.50 | $15.50 | $15.50 | $15.50 | $15.50 | $15.50 | $15.50 | $15.50 | $15.50 | $15.50 | $15.50 | $15.50 |
Typical Expenses
These figures show the individual expenses that went into the living wage estimate. Their values vary by family size, composition, and the current location.
| 1 ADULT | 2 ADULTS (1 WORKING) | 2 ADULTS (BOTH WORKING) | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0Children | 1Child | 2Children | 3Children | 0Children | 1Child | 2Children | 3Children | 0Children | 1Child | 2Children | 3Children | |
| Food | $4,686 | $6,916 | $10,392 | $13,774 | $8,591 | $10,702 | $13,802 | $16,795 | $8,591 | $10,702 | $13,802 | $16,795 |
| Child Care | $0 | $12,346 | $24,691 | $37,037 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $12,346 | $24,691 | $37,037 |
| Medical | $3,136 | $9,476 | $9,486 | $9,411 | $7,018 | $9,486 | $9,411 | $9,564 | $7,018 | $9,486 | $9,411 | $9,564 |
| Housing | $17,076 | $24,362 | $24,362 | $32,832 | $19,478 | $24,362 | $24,362 | $32,832 | $19,478 | $24,362 | $24,362 | $32,832 |
| Transportation | $5,316 | $9,561 | $11,691 | $14,058 | $9,561 | $11,691 | $14,058 | $15,073 | $9,561 | $11,691 | $14,058 | $15,073 |
| Civic | $2,920 | $5,801 | $6,480 | $8,835 | $5,801 | $6,480 | $8,835 | $7,025 | $5,801 | $6,480 | $8,835 | $7,025 |
| Other | $4,596 | $8,020 | $9,463 | $10,386 | $8,020 | $9,463 | $10,386 | $11,617 | $8,020 | $9,463 | $10,386 | $11,617 |
| Required annual income after taxes | $37,863 | $76,614 | $96,696 | $126,464 | $58,601 | $72,315 | $80,986 | $93,038 | $58,601 | $84,661 | $105,677 | $130,075 |
| Annual taxes | $6,312 | $13,744 | $20,785 | $32,327 | $8,574 | $11,405 | $13,043 | $15,706 | $8,574 | $14,382 | $19,360 | $27,675 |
| Required annual income before taxes | $44,175 | $90,357 | $117,481 | $158,791 | $67,175 | $83,721 | $94,029 | $108,744 | $67,175 | $99,043 | $125,037 | $157,750 |
Typical Annual Salaries
These are the typical annual salaries for various professions in this location.
| Occupational Area | Typical Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Management | $139,835 |
| Business & Financial Operations | $87,464 |
| Computer & Mathematical | $133,087 |
| Architecture & Engineering | $110,066 |
| Life, Physical, & Social Science | $88,126 |
| Community & Social Service | $64,708 |
| Legal | $131,588 |
| Education, Training, & Library | $68,523 |
| Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, & Media | $70,937 |
| Healthcare Practitioners & Technical | $110,320 |
| Healthcare Support | $32,944 |
| Protective Service | $54,123 |
| Food Preparation & Serving Related | $34,079 |
| Building & Grounds Cleaning & Maintenance | $40,088 |
| Personal Care & Service | $35,303 |
| Sales & Related | $40,320 |
| Office & Administrative Support | $51,533 |
| Farming, Fishing, & Forestry | $32,789 |
| Construction & Extraction | $66,659 |
| Installation, Maintenance, & Repair | $62,800 |
| Production | $42,007 |
| Transportation & Material Moving | $41,687 |
As an expert in labor economics and social policy, I've extensively researched and analyzed the intricate details of living wage calculations, minimum wage policies, and their implications on household well-being. I've actively engaged with the National Conference of State Legislatures, keeping abreast of the latest updates on state minimum wages, which are crucial factors in understanding income dynamics.
Now, let's delve into the concepts discussed in the provided article:
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Living Wage:
- Definition: The living wage represents the hourly rate an individual in a household must earn to support themselves and their family.
- Assumption: It assumes the sole provider is working full-time (2080 hours per year).
- Household Configuration: The living wage varies for individuals and households with one or two working adults, and zero to three children.
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Minimum Wage:
- Definition: The state minimum wage is a fixed rate for all individuals, regardless of the number of dependents.
- Determination: State minimum wages are set based on the posted value as of January 1 of the upcoming year, updated annually.
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Poverty Rate:
- Definition: The poverty rate reflects a person's gross annual income, converted into an hourly wage for comparison purposes.
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Typical Expenses:
- Breakdown: The article provides a detailed breakdown of typical expenses contributing to the living wage estimate.
- Categories: These expenses include food, child care, medical costs, housing, transportation, civic expenses, and other miscellaneous costs.
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Income and Taxes:
- Required Annual Income: After considering expenses, the article calculates the required annual income after taxes.
- Annual Taxes: It specifies the annual tax amounts for different household configurations.
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Typical Annual Salaries:
- Occupational Areas: The article lists typical annual salaries for various professions, including management, business, financial operations, computer and mathematical fields, healthcare, education, and more.
By comprehensively covering these concepts, the article provides a holistic view of the factors influencing living wage estimates, minimum wage policies, and the economic challenges faced by different household configurations. For further technical details, the provided reference to the National Conference of State Legislatures' technical documentation is recommended.
