The Massachusettes Institute of Technology has developed a Living Wage Calculator in order to help individuals, communities, employees and others estimate the local wage rate that a full-time worker requires to cover the cost of basic needs.
By using the Living Wage Calculator, you can explore the living wage in your county (or parish), metro area or state, for twelve different family types.
What does it take to make a liveable wage in Louisiana?
The Living Wage Calculator for Louisiana as a whole shows the hourly rate that an individual in a household needs to earn in order to support themselves and/or their family while working full-time in Louisiana.
The calculator provides estimated living wages for individuals and households with one or two working adults, and zero to three children. As for households with two working adults, the calculator’s hourly values show what one working adult is required to earn, assuming that the other adult also earns the same.
Person holding cash, dollar bills of various amounts spread out as a display of money.
The poverty wage and the state’s minimum wage are included within the Living Wage Calculator for reference puposes.
Single adult with no kids
According to Living Wage Calculator, the living wage of an adult in Louisiana with no children is $19.82 per hour, the poverty wage is $7.24 and the minimum wage is $7.25.
Single adult with kids
The Living Wage Calculator says the living wage of a single adult in Louisiana with one child is $32.71 per hour, $40.49 for an adult with two children and $52.52 for an adult with three children.
The poverty wage for a single adult with one child is $9.83 per hour, $12.41 for an adult with two children and $15.00 for an adult with three children. Additionally, minimum wage for a single adult with children is $7.25.
Couple with no kids
According to Living Wage Calculator, the living wage for a couple with one adult working and no children is $27.68 per hour, the poverty wage is $9.83 and the minimum wage is $7.25.
The living wage for a couple with both adults working and no children is $13.84, the poverty wage is $4.91 and the minimum wage is $7.25.
Couple with kids and one working adult
The Living Wage Calculator says that the living wage for a couple with one child and one adult working is $32.69 per hour and the poverty wage is $12.41.
The living wage for a couple with two children and one working adult is $37.10 and the poverty wage is $15.00. The living wage for a couple with three children and one working adult is $39.27 and the poverty wage is $17.59.
Couple with kids and both adults working
The living wage for two working adults with one child is $18.52 and the poverty wage is $6.21. For two working adults with two children, the living wage is $22.79 and the poverty wage is $7.50. For two working adults with three children, the living wage is $25.99 and the poverty wage is $8.79.
What is the required annual income for Louisiana adults?
For a single adult with no children in Louisiana, it is estimated that the person needs to earn $41,233 for a livable wage. For a working family of two with three kids, it’s suggested that the family must make $108,111.
This is to cover expenses such as food, child care, medical, housing, transportation and typical house expenses such as internet, mobile phones and taxes.
This article originally appeared on Shreveport Times: What is considered a livable wage in Louisiana? Find out wages here