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Living Wage Study - May 1998 Study

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The new Living Wage study, (originally done in 1994 and updated in 1996) shows the Living Wage for an individual in Tompkins County is $16,500/year. This year's study is different than previous studies: Utilities and garbage are included in rent, one figure is given for transportation, rather than with and without a car, payroll, federal and state income taxes are included, and the bottom line figure supports the employee only. To support a dependent, rent would increase to $678/month, food and health care would almost double, and Child Care would range from $4432 per year in family day care to $7800/year for infant care at a Child Care Center.

 

Category
Month
Year
Source/Comments
Rent
$477.00
$5,724.00
 Housing Solutions (includes gas, electric, garbage.)
Transportation
$100.00
$1,200.00
 Rent reflects in-town. Out of town transportation costs are higher, but rents lower.
Food
$157.33
$1,888.00
 Dept. Social Services, Food Stamp division, Low cost plan.
Telephone
$28.76
$345.12
 Bell Atlantic
Health Care
$70.00
$840.00
 Health insurance premium (75% paid by employer) + $300 additional for co-pay, dental and other uncovered medical expenses
Recreation/Entertainment
$106.66
$1,280.00
 Vacation, movies, cable, sports, books, magazines, etc.
Savings
$50.00
$600.00
  
Misc.
$130.00
$1,560.00
 Household goods, clothing, laundry, sales tax, furniture, appliances, garden supplies, etc.
Payroll tax
$105.19
$1,262.25
 7.65%
Federal tax
$121.25
$1,455.00
 Income minus $6800 x 15%
State tax
$30.00
$360.00
 Income minus $7500 x 4%
TOTALS
$1,376.19
$16,514.37
 $9.07@35; $8.76@36.25; $8.47@37.5; $7.94/hr @40/hrs/wk

Thanks to Yat-She Shum, an intern from the School of Industrial and Labor Relations at Cornell University for collecting the data used in this study. For copies or information, contact Leni Hochman, lhochman@alteratives.org; (607) 216-3418.

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