What is Considered a Good Hourly Wage in 2024

What is considered a good hourly wage is a question that has a different answer for practically everyone. For most people, a decent hourly wage is one that will pay the bills comfortably, allow room for a few fun activities each month, and the ability to plan for a successful and financially stress-free retirement.

What You Need to Know

What is a good hourly wage for one person is likely different for another person. Factors that determine if you make a good hourly wage: > Where you live > How many hours you work > Your pay >How many people you support on your paycheck The ‘living wage’ is a term used to define the hourly pay rate at which a family can afford basic necessities, calculated after deducting taxes so the amount of money that is taken home is used. > The state that ranks with the highest required living wage to comfortably pay the bills is the District of Columbia, with Hawaii and California in a close second. > The state that ranks with the lowest living wage is South Dakota, with North Dakota, Ohio, and Wyoming following.

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A good hourly wage for one person is likely different for another person.

Furthermore, two people can make the exact same hourly wage but depending on several factors, one may be living comfortably and the other may be financially stressed out to the max.

Factors that determine if you make a good hourly wage:

• Where you live
• How many hours you work
• Your pay
• How many people you support on your paycheck

The ‘living wage’ is a term used to define the hourly pay rate at which a family can afford basic necessities, calculated after deducting taxes so the amount of money that is taken home is used to determine the living wage for each area.

The state that ranks with the highest required living wage to comfortably pay the bills is the District of Columbia, with Hawaii and California in a close second.

The state that ranks with the lowest living wage is South Dakota, with North Dakota, Ohio, and Wyoming following.

What is considered a good hourly wage?

Is the federal government-mandated minimum wage enough to live on comfortably?

The answer is determined by two variables: your income and how much it costs to live in your area (typically referred to as the cost of living.)

However, a third variable is the number of people you are supporting with the money you make.

I heard some people talking behind me in a line recently about how much money they made per hour, and that they needed to get a better paying job. The conversation turned to complaining because they didn’t feel like they made enough to pay their bills and have any left for other activities.

One of them mentioned having two children and the additional expenses she had because of this.

Another one mentioned how hard it was to find another job in her industry, even though she felt she wasn’t paid enough for her skill level and her value to the company.

This conversation is the perfect example of how much money a person needs to live comfortably is dependent on many variables, one of them being the location or area where they live.

Although there is a set minimum hourly wage by the U.S. Federal Government ($7.25 per hour in 2022), how far a paycheck will go on this amount is different from one person to the next.

States are also allowed to set their own higher hourly wages with a minimum requirement for businesses with a specified number of employees. In 2022, hourly rates outside this requirement in each state range from $8.75 (Montana) to $14.49 (Washington). Also, cities can choose to set their own hourly rate requirements.

The cost of living varies widely across the country. Even in areas with a lower cost of living, a lower-paying job may not be sufficient to cover the expenses of a family, even with two working adults contributing to the bills.

In reality, you are the only person that can determine what a decent hourly wage, or even a good wage, is in your area.

Using the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s recent earnings data Living Wage Calculator with data from 2021, we ranked each state so you can see where you fall with your location and hourly pay.

First, let’s dive into some common questions about hourly wages!

What’s a good hourly wage for a college student?

Considering recent job postings on ZipRecruiter, in 2022 students in the U.S. earn an hourly wage of $21.75.

However, the range across the nation is widespread, falling as low as $6.73 per hour and rising as high as $49.04 an hour.

The cities with the highest hourly wage for a college student are:

1. San Mateo, CA
2. Stanford, CA
3. Juneau, AK
4. Queens, NY

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What is a good hourly wage for a first job?

Getting an accurate number for a good hourly wage for a first job is nearly impossible, considering location, industry, skill level, and so many other factors determine the hourly wage.

However, it is possible to get a solid estimate for your personal entry-level salary.

Here is how you do that:

1. Decide what kind of job you want and write down the job titles for your area
2. Research the salary in your area for each job, or in the area you intend to move to
   • If you are planning on relocating, be sure to compare the cost of living differences 
   • Use online tools such as Salary.com, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, and PayScale. 
3. When this information is in place, answer the following questions to make sure you can live on the hourly wage:
   • What is the cost of the average rent in the area?
   • How much are your monthly expenses such as car payment, insurance, or public transportation fees?
   • What is the amount of student loans you have to pay monthly?
   • What are your debt payments each month, such as credit cards or other loans?
   • How much do you estimate you will spend on food each month?
   • Will you need to purchase your own health insurance plan?
   • How much money would you like to save each month?
   • What is the amount you need to spend on incidentals each month such as toiletries, cleaning supplies, toilet paper, etc.?
   • How much money do you need for activities?
   • Do you have an emergency fund already set up or do you need to start contributing to one?
   • Do you have money set aside for a housing deposit for a rental?

If you need help setting up a budget, you can pick up 20 free budget templates here, and use the one that fits your personality best.

What is a good hourly wage for a part-time job?

According to ZipRecruiter, the average hourly wage for a part-time job in the U.S. is $12.74.

This works out to be approximately $510 per week and $2,209 per month.

Of course, just like with any job there is a long list of variables that have to be taken into consideration before knowing what is a good hourly wage for a part-time job. Such things include location, skill level, type of job, industry, and experience, just to mention a few.

What’s a good hourly wage for a teenager?

A good hourly wage for a teenager is hourly pay above the federal minimum wage, which is $7.25 an hour in 2022.

Popular summer jobs for teens:

What is a good hourly wage to live comfortably?

Depending on where you live, a good hourly wage to live comfortably will change from location to location.

This is where the importance of knowing your living wage comes in, which takes your lifestyle and expenses into consideration, allowing you a wage to live comfortably.

The ‘living wage’ is a term used to define the hourly pay rate a person or family needs to be able to live comfortably, not extravagantly. In other words, basic necessities are able to be paid each month.

How do I calculate living wage?

The living wage is the hourly pay rate at which a family can afford basic necessities, calculated after deducting taxes so the amount of money that is taken home is used.

The MIT ‘living wage’ calculator takes into consideration how many working adults and children live in the home, as well as other living expenses such as

• Food
• Child care
• Out-of-pocket health care costs
• Transportation
• Cell phone
• Educational recreation such as reading material and museums
• Typical household expenses (personal care, cleaning products, etc.)

However, the creator of the calculator, Dr. Glasmeier, did not include expenses that are not a necessity to live, such as:

• Eating out
• Student loans
• Buying gifts
• Credit card debt
• Vacations
• Savings
• Retirement

This should be kept in mind with what you consider as your personal living wage when comparing it with the data in your state.

State rankings for hourly wage translated into living wage

The state rankings start with the lowest living wage first and work down to the highest.

How do your hourly wage and take-home compare in the area you live in?

Not sure and want more information to take a deep dive into how much you really make an hour? Jump to the detailed information about hourly wages and get a headstart!

1. South Dakota

Household details and living wage in South Dakota:

• Two working adults and two children: $12.61 per hour (for each adult)
• Two working adults: $10.65 per hour (for each adult)
• Two adults with one working adult, and one child: $25.74 per hour
• One adult: $18.54 per hour

2. North Dakota

Household details and living wage in North Dakota:

• Two working adults and two children: $19.20 per hour (for each adult)
• Two working adults: $10.86 per hour (for each adult)
• Two adults with one working adult, and one child: $26.01 per hour
• One adult: $13.08 per hour

3. Ohio

Household details and living wage in Ohio:

• Two working adults and two children: $20.28 per hour (for each adult)
• Two working adults: $10.94 per hour (for each adult)
• Two adults with one working adult, and one child: $25.95 per hour
• One adult: $13.16 per hour

4. Wyoming

Household details and living wage in Wyoming:

• Two working adults and two children: $19.14 per hour (for each adult)
• Two working adults: $10.83 per hour (for each adult)
• Two adults with one working adult, and one child: $25.98 per hour
• One adult: $13.19 per hour

5. Tennessee

Household details and living wage in Tennessee:

• Two working adults and two children: $17.82 per hour (for each adult)
• Two working adults: $10.72 per hour (for each adult)
• Two adults with one working adult, and one child: $25.58 per hour
• One adult: $13.25 per hour

6. Arkansas

Household details and living wage in Arkansas:

• Two working adults and two children: $19.35 per hour (for each adult)
• Two working adults: $11.25 per hour (for each adult)
• Two adults with one working adult, and one child: $27.15 per hour
• One adult: $13.29 per hour

7. West Virginia

Household details and living wage in West Virginia:

• Two working adults and two children: $19.87 per hour (for each adult)
• Two working adults: $11.17 per hour (for each adult)
• Two adults with one working adult, and one child: $26.16 per hour
• One adult: $13.38 per hour

8. Pennsylvania

Household details and living wage in Pennsylvania:

• Two working adults and two children: $19.12 per hour (for each adult)
• Two working adults: $10.77 per hour (for each adult)
• Two adults with one working adult, and one child: $25.66 per hour
• One adult: $13.39 per hour

9. Mississippi

Household details and living wage in Mississippi:

• Two working adults and two children: $18.07 per hour (for each adult)
• Two working adults: $11.28 per hour (for each adult)
• Two adults with one working adult, and one child: $26.48 per hour
• One adult: $13.43 per hour

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10. Indiana

Household details and living wage in Indiana:

• Two working adults and two children: $18.49 per hour (for each adult)
• Two working adults: $11.08 per hour (for each adult)
• Two adults with one working adult, and one child: $26.55 per hour
• One adult: $13.44 per hour

11. Kentucky

Household details and living wage in Kentucky:

• Two working adults and two children: $19.60 per hour (for each adult)
• Two working adults: $11.09 per hour (for each adult)
• Two adults with one working adult, and one child: $26.64 per hour
• One adult: $13.48 per hour

12. Kansas

Household details and living wage in Kentucky:

• Two working adults and two children: $19.48 per hour (for each adult)
• Two working adults: $11.27 per hour (for each adult)
• Two adults with one working adult, and one child: $27.03 per hour
• One adult: $13.51 per hour

13. Oklahoma

Household details and living wage in Oklahoma:

• Two working adults and two children: $19.33 per hour (for each adult)
• Two working adults: $11.25 per hour (for each adult)
• Two adults with one working adult, and one child: $26.97 per hour
• One adult: $13.53 per hour

14. Nebraska

Household details and living wage in Nebraska:

• Two working adults and two children: $20.19 per hour (for each adult)
• Two working adults: $11.65 per hour (for each adult)
• Two adults with one working adult, and one child: $27.70 per hour
• One adult: $13.57 per hour

15. Iowa

Household details and living wage in Iowa:

• Two working adults and two children: $20.48 per hour (for each adult)
• Two working adults: $11.57 per hour (for each adult)
• Two adults with one working adult, and one child: $27.52 per hour
• One adult: $13.62 per hour

16. Michigan

Household details and living wage in Michigan:

• Two working adults and two children: $22.71 per hour (for each adult)
• Two working adults: $11.10 per hour (for each adult)
• Two adults with one working adult, and one child: $26.03 per hour
• One adult: $13.63 per hour

17. Nevada

Household details and living wage in Nevada:

• Two working adults and two children: $20.16 per hour (for each adult)
• Two working adults: $11.48 per hour (for each adult)
• Two adults with one working adult, and one child: $26.85 per hour
• One adult: $13.67 per hour

18. Missouri

Household details and living wage in Missouri:

• Two working adults and two children: $19.41 per hour (for each adult)
• Two working adults: $11.48 per hour (for each adult)
• Two adults with one working adult, and one child: $27.84 per hour
• One adult: $13.72 per hour

19. Alabama

Household details and living wage in Alabama:

• Two working adults and two children: $18.42 per hour (for each adult)
• Two working adults: $11.15 per hour (for each adult)
• Two adults with one working adult, and one child: $26.44 per hour
• One adult: $13.77 per hour

20. Montana

Household details and living wage in Montana:

• Two working adults and two children: $20.79 per hour (for each adult)
• Two working adults: $11.53 per hour (for each adult)
• Two adults with one working adult, and one child: $27.69 per hour
• One adult: $13.94 per hour

21. Idaho

Household details and living wage in Idaho:

• Two working adults and two children: $19.27 per hour (for each adult)
• Two working adults: $11.67 per hour (for each adult)
• Two adults with one working adult, and one child: $27.41 per hour
• One adult: $13.95 per hour

22. New Mexico

Household details and living wage in New Mexico:

• Two working adults and two children: $19.62 per hour (for each adult)
• Two working adults: $11.66 per hour (for each adult)
• Two adults with one working adult, and one child: $27.81 per hour
• One adult: $13.97 per hour

23. Texas

Household details and living wage in Texas:

• Two working adults and two children: $19.31 per hour (for each adult)
• Two working adults: $11.32 per hour (for each adult)
• Two adults with one working adult, and one child: $27.36 per hour
• One adult: $14.01 per hour

24. Wisconsin

Household details and living wage in Wisconsin:

• Two working adults and two children: $21.24 per hour (for each adult)
• Two working adults: $11.49 per hour (for each adult)
• Two adults with one working adult, and one child: $27.26 per hour
• One adult: $14.02 per hour

25. Louisiana

Household details and living wage Louisiana:

• Two working adults and two children: $19.99 per hour (for each adult)
• Two working adults: $11.64 per hour (for each adult)
• Two adults with one working adult, and one child: $28.51 per hour
• One adult: $14.06 per hour

26. New Hampshire

Household details and living wage in New Hampshire:

• Two working adults and two children: $20.68 per hour (for each adult)
• Two working adults: $11.45 per hour (for each adult)
• Two adults with one working adult, and one child: $27.55 per hour
• One adult: $14.47 per hour

27. Utah

Household details and living wage in Utah:

• Two working adults and two children: $20.31 per hour (for each adult)
• Two working adults: $11.99 per hour (for each adult)
• Two adults with one working adult, and one child: $28.28 per hour
• One adult: $14.52 per hour

28. South Carolina

Household details and living wage in South Carolina:

• Two working adults and two children: $19.76 per hour (for each adult)
• Two working adults: $12.07 per hour (for each adult)
• Two adults with one working adult, and one child: $29.49 per hour
• One adult: $14.58 per hour

29. North Carolina

Household details and living wage in North Carolina:

• Two working adults and two children: $20.90 per hour (for each adult)
• Two working adults: $11.66 per hour (for each adult)
• Two adults with one working adult, and one child: $27.62 per hour
• One adult: $14.72 per hour

30. Rhode Island

Household details and living wage in Rhode Island:

• Two working adults and two children: $21.21 per hour (for each adult)
• Two working adults: $11.70 per hour (for each adult)
• Two adults with one working adult, and one child: $27.79 per hour
• One adult: $14.79 per hour

31. Florida

Household details and living wage in Florida:

• Two working adults and two children: $20.79 per hour (for each adult)
• Two working adults: $11.99 per hour (for each adult)
• Two adults with one working adult, and one child: $28.88 per hour
• One adult: $14.82 per hour

32. Minnesota

Household details and living wage in Minnesota:

• Two working adults and two children: $21.68 per hour (for each adult)
• Two working adults: $12.32 per hour (for each adult)
• Two adults with one working adult, and one child: $29.21 per hour
• One adult: $14.90 per hour

33. Maine

Household details and living wage in Maine:

• Two working adults and two children: $21.14 per hour (for each adult)
• Two working adults: $11.94 per hour (for each adult)
• Two adults with one working adult, and one child: $28.65 per hour
• One adult: $14.92 per hour

34. Vermont

Household details and living wage in Vermont:

• Two working adults and two children: $22.20 per hour (for each adult)
• Two working adults: $12.18 per hour (for each adult)
• Two adults with one working adult, and one child: $29.21 per hour
• One adult: $14.93 per hour

35. Arizona

Household details and living wage in Arizona:

• Two working adults and two children: $19.51 per hour (for each adult)
• Two working adults: $12.15 per hour (for each adult)
• Two adults with one working adult, and one child: $28.69 per hour
• One adult: $14.94 per hour

36. Alaska

Household details and living wage in Alaska:

• Two working adults and two children: $20.40 per hour (for each adult)
• Two working adults: $11.69 per hour (for each adult)
• Two adults with one working adult, and one child: $28.12 per hour
• One adult: $15.06 per hour

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37. Delaware

Household details and living wage in Delaware:

• Two working adults and two children: $21.75 per hour (for each adult)
• Two working adults: $12.33 per hour (for each adult)
• Two adults with one working adult, and one child: $30.18 per hour
• One adult: $15.32 per hour

38. Georgia

Household details and living wage in Georgia:

• Two working adults and two children: $19.97 per hour (for each adult)
• Two working adults: $12.06 per hour (for each adult)
• Two adults with one working adult, and one child: $28.58 per hour
• One adult: $15.36 per hour

39. Illinois

Household details and living wage in Illinois:

• Two working adults and two children: $21.34 per hour (for each adult)
• Two working adults: $12.29 per hour (for each adult)
• Two adults with one working adult, and one child: $28.87 per hour
• One adult: $15.37 per hour

40. Connecticut

Household details and living wage in Connecticut:

• Two working adults and two children: $22.55 per hour (for each adult)
• Two working adults: $12.75 per hour (for each adult)
• Two adults with one working adult, and one child: $30.48 per hour
• One adult: $15.98 per hour

41. New Jersey

Household details and living wage in New Jersey:

• Two working adults and two children: $25.11 per hour (for each adult)
• Two working adults: $13.19 per hour (for each adult)
• Two adults with one working adult, and one child: $31.53 per hour
• One adult: $16.20 per hour

42. Washington

Household details and living wage in Washington:

• Two working adults and two children: $21.67 per hour (for each adult)
• Two working adults: $12.33 per hour (for each adult)
• Two adults with one working adult, and one child: $29.76 per hour
• One adult: $16.34 per hour

43. Colorado

Household details and living wage in Colorado:

• Two working adults and two children: $23.57 per hour (for each adult)
• Two working adults: $12.91 per hour (for each adult)
• Two adults with one working adult, and one child: $31.19 per hour
• One adult: $16.35 per hour

44. Virginia

Household details and living wage in Virginia:

• Two working adults and two children: $22.33 per hour (for each adult)
• Two working adults: $12.57 per hour (for each adult)
• Two adults with one working adult, and one child: $30.08 per hour
• One adult: $16.61 per hour

45. Oregon

Household details and living wage in Oregon:

• Two working adults and two children: $22.37 per hour (for each adult)
• Two working adults: $13.26 per hour (for each adult)
• Two adults with one working adult, and one child: $31.68 per hour
• One adult: $16.85 per hour

46. Maryland

Household details and living wage in Maryland:

• Two working adults and two children: $23.40 per hour (for each adult)
• Two working adults: $13.33 per hour (for each adult)
• Two adults with one working adult, and one child: $31.82 per hour
• One adult: $17.25 per hour

47. Massachusetts

Household details and living wage in Massachusetts:

• Two working adults and two children: $25.61 per hour (for each adult)
• Two working adults: $13.12 per hour (for each adult)
• Two adults with one working adult, and one child: $31.31 per hour
• One adult: $17.74 per hour

48. New York

Household details and living wage in New York:

• Two working adults and two children: $24.66 per hour (for each adult)
• Two working adults: $13.73 per hour (for each adult)
• Two adults with one working adult, and one child: $32.29 per hour
• One adult: $18.62 per hour

49. California

Household details and living wage in California:

• Two working adults and two children: $27.08 per hour (for each adult)
• Two working adults: $15.13 per hour (for each adult)
• Two adults with one working adult, and one child: $36.85 per hour
• One adult: $18.66 per hour

Wondering how to convert your yearly salary into how much you make per hour? Get the details using our free Yearly to Hourly Wage Calculator!

50. Hawaii

Household details and living wage in Hawaii:

• Two working adults and two children: $25.42 per hour (for each adult)
• Two working adults: $15.06 per hour (for each adult)
• Two adults with one working adult, and one child: $36.48 per hour
• One adult: $19.43 per hour

51. District of Columbia

Household details and living wage in the District of Columbia:

• Two working adults and two children: $20.12 per hour (for each adult)
• Two working adults: $14.88 per hour (for each adult)
• Two adults with one working adult, and one child: $34.71 per hour
• One adult: $20.12 per hour

Is your pay considered a good hourly wage?

After reviewing the living wage calculations by Dr. Glasmeier, how do you stack up?

Do you make enough money to live comfortably in your area?

If you are struggling with keeping your finances stress-free, starting a budget will make a huge difference no matter how much money you make. If you feel like you have your financial goals going in the right direction and don’t have a budget, that’s great!

Just think about how much a budget could put even more of your hard-earned money back into your pocket!

The free Budgeting Basics eBook is the perfect resource to get your money under control or fine-tune it in a specific area.

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Sources used in this post:

• https://www.dol.gov/general/topic/wages/minimumwage
• https://livingwage.mit.edu/
• https://www.bls.gov/ncs/
• https://livingwage.mit.edu/pages/about
• https://www.ziprecruiter.com/
• https://www.themuse.com/

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