Matt Cram
Living Wages
How much money a single person needs to earn to get by in every U.S. state
From MIT’s Living Wage Calculator which estimates the minimum income necessary for a single person to cover their living expenses and stay above the poverty line, without outside help, across the U.S.
| State | Required income before taxes | Housing costs | Food costs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $29,138 | $7,598 | $3,331 |
| Alaska | $32,948 | $11,150 | $3,988 |
| Arizona | $32,315 | $9,747 | $3,988 |
| Arkansas | $28,729 | $6,674 | $3,286 |
| California | $40,579 | $15,882 | $4,031 |
| Colorado | $35,078 | $12,048 | $4,031 |
| Connecticut | $34,187 | $11,670 | $3,865 |
| Delaware | $32,780 | $10,047 | $3,331 |
| Florida | $31,698 | $11,173 | $3,331 |
| Georgia | $32,186 | $10,066 | $3,331 |
| Hawaii | $42,539 | $17,165 | $4,031 |
| Idaho | $30,271 | $7,566 | $3,988 |
| Illinois | $32,290 | $10,042 | $3,379 |
| Indiana | $28,952 | $7,175 | $3,379 |
| Iowa | $29,741 | $6,811 | $3,379 |
| Kansas | $28,498 | $7,246 | $3,379 |
| Kentucky | $28,757 | $6,630 | $3,331 |
| Louisiana | $29,983 | $8,045 | $3,331 |
| Maine | $32,205 | $8,929 | $3,865 |
| Maryland | $37,218 | $13,450 | $3,331 |
| Massachusetts | $38,299 | $16,085 | $3,865 |
| Michigan | $29,276 | $7,645 | $3,379 |
| Minnesota | $32,622 | $8,743 | $3,379 |
| Mississippi | $28,375 | $7,067 | $3,331 |
| Missouri | $29,834 | $7,040 | $3,379 |
| Montana | $30,267 | $7,530 | $3,988 |
| Nebraska | $29,020 | $7,020 | $3,379 |
| Nevada | $29,577 | $8,668 | $3,988 |
| New Hampshire | $31,090 | $10,601 | $3,865 |
| New Jersey | $35,045 | $13,051 | $3,865 |
| New Mexico | $30,264 | $7,651 | $3,988 |
| New York | $40,302 | $15,676 | $3,865 |
| North Carolina | $31,636 | $9,000 | $3,331 |
| North Dakota | $28,321 | $7,458 | $3,379 |
| Ohio | $28,698 | $6,943 | $3,379 |
| Oklahoma | $29,125 | $7,293 | $3,331 |
| Oregon | $36,741 | $11,761 | $3,988 |
| Pennsylvania | $28,939 | $8,538 | $3,865 |
| Rhode Island | $32,679 | $9,804 | $3,865 |
| South Carolina | $31,244 | $8,540 | $3,331 |
| South Dakota | $27,926 | $6,604 | $3,379 |
| Tennessee | $28,811 | $8,085 | $3,331 |
| Texas | $30,082 | $9,628 | $3,331 |
| Utah | $31,847 | $8,646 | $3,988 |
| Vermont | $32,367 | $10,189 | $3,865 |
| Virginia | $35,567 | $12,618 | $3,331 |
| Washington | $34,544 | $13,980 | $3,988 |
| West Virginia | $28,626 | $7,329 | $3,331 |
| Wisconsin | $30,316 | $7,566 | $3,379 |
| Wyoming | $28,689 | $7,918 | $3,988 |