If you want to live comfortably in Pittsburgh, you'll need to make close to $100,000 annually, according to a new report.
Using a popular budgeting rule that splits earnings between necessities, wants and savings, SmartAsset estimated how much it takes to live comfortably in each state, then ranked states based on how much you'd have to earn to live there comfortably.
While the SmartAsset list estimates single adults in Pennsylvania need to earn close to $100,000 a year to live comfortably, the average annual income in Pittsburgh is much lower.
Here's what to know.
Are you making a comfortable living wage in Pittsburgh? Here's how much you need to earn
In Pennsylvania, a single adult needs to earn an annual salary of $97,011 a year to live comfortably, an income that puts it at No. 26 among states that require the highest incomes for comfortable
living. For a family of four, an income of $247,936 is necessary to live comfortably in the Keystone State.
The Living Wage Institute estimated much lower salaries for both single adults and families looking to make a living wage. For a single adult without kids in Pittsburgh, an annual salary of about $46,258 would be a living wage. A family of four with two working adults would need to make a household income of $113,776.
How much is the average Pittsburgh income?
Estimates on Pittsburgh's average incomes vary. Between 2020 and 2024, the median household income in the city was $65,742, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, while U.S. News and World Report said the median household income was $70,364. The per capita income for the same time period was $45,385, according to the Census Bureau.
The Living Wage Institute examined Pittsburgh's average annual salaries across various industries based on data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. While some occupations, like management roles, saw an annual salary of about $127,370, others were significantly lower, with food preparation and serving-related occupations seeing the lowest annual salary of $32,190.
What determines a comfortable living wage? It's based on a budgeting rule
SmartAsset determined each state's wages necessary to live comfortably using data from MIT Living Wage Calculator's cost-of-living estimates for a single adult without children and a household with two adults working adults and two children. Then, estimates were tweaked based on the 50/30/20 budgeting rule, which recommends putting 50% of your earnings toward needs, 30% toward wants and 20% toward savings. In SmartAsset's assessment, the living wage was treated as the amount needed for necessities, or 50% of the total budget.
Finch Walker is the Pittsburgh Connect Reporter for the USA TODAY Network. Contact Walker at FWalker@usatodayco.com. Instagram: @finchwalker_. X: @_finchwalker.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Average Pittsburgh income far below amount needed to live comfortably
