Living wage requirements vary greatly by family composition and labor force participation: Hourly wage that constitutes a “living wage” for selected family types and work hours
| 1-person family: 1 full-time worker | 2-person family: 1 full-time worker supporting 1 child | 4-person family: 1 full-time worker supporting 1 adult and 2 children | 4-person family: 2 full-time workers supporting 2 children | 4-person family: 1 full-time and 1 part-time worker supporting 2 children | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles | $26.81 | $46.21 | $62.55 | $31.27 | $41.70 |
| New York | $33.58 | $52.02 | $70.69 | $35.35 | $47.13 |
| Chicago | $23.72 | $37.97 | $52.34 | $26.17 | $34.89 |
| Houston | $21.56 | $32.74 | $45.72 | $22.86 | $30.48 |
| Philadelphia | $23.14 | $37.84 | $53.84 | $26.92 | $35.89 |
Notes: Living wages presented here are based on EPI’s Family Budget Calculator for the five largest metro areas. The first three bars present family types in which one adult works 40 hours a week, 52 weeks a year, supporting a family of one, two, or four people; the fourth bar presents a two-adult, two-child family with two full-time workers; and the fifth bar presents a two-adult, two-child family with one full-time worker and one part-time worker for a total of 60 hours a week. EPI’s family budgets assume a one-child family has a four-year-old. A two-child family has a four-year-old and an eight-year-old. Adults are assumed to be 40 years old.
Source: Analysis of EPI’s Family Budget Calculator (EPI 2024a).