Can you actually live on that salary?
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Living wage data is calculated from publicly available federal datasets (HUD, BLS, USDA, Census Bureau) using the methodology developed by Dr. Amy K. Glasmeier at MIT.
Frequently asked questions
What is a living wage?
A living wage is the hourly rate an individual in a household must earn to support themselves and their family. It accounts for the cost of food, childcare, healthcare, housing, transportation, and other basic necessities — plus taxes. Unlike the federal minimum wage, which is a fixed number, the living wage varies by location and household size.
How is the living wage calculated?
We use the methodology developed by Dr. Amy K. Glasmeier at MIT, which combines data from HUD (housing costs), USDA (food costs), the Bureau of Labor Statistics (transportation, healthcare, and other expenses), and the Census Bureau (geographic data). Each cost component is summed for a specific county and household type, then converted to an hourly wage based on 2,080 working hours per year.
What's the difference between living wage and minimum wage?
The federal minimum wage is $7.25/hour (as of 2024) and hasn't changed since 2009. The living wage — what it actually costs to live — ranges from about $18/hour in low-cost rural areas to over $40/hour in expensive metro areas for a single adult. For families with children, the gap is even wider.
Does this account for taxes?
Yes. The living wage calculation includes estimated federal and state income taxes, FICA (Social Security and Medicare), and applicable state/local taxes. The salary you need to earn before taxes is higher than the raw sum of expenses.
How often is the data updated?
The underlying federal datasets are published annually. We refresh our calculations when new data becomes available, typically in Q1 each year. Each result shows the data year so you know how current it is.