‘Living wage’ in Kansas City is over $35 in every local county, study reports
A recent study tracking health conditions in every U.S. county has found that the living wage in and around Kansas City is far higher than previously calculated, and much higher than the area’s current minimum wage.
The University of Wisconsin conducted the study, entitled County Health Rankings & Roadmaps. The project defines a living wage as “The hourly wage needed to cover basic household expenses plus all relevant taxes for a household of one adult and two children.”
The study asserts that wages are inextricably tied to community health outcomes due to their impacts on housing, food insecurity, access to healthcare and more.
Johnson County has the highest living wage in the state of Kansas, as well as in the Kansas City area, at $41.07 an hour. Wyandotte County is not far behind, coming in fourth with a living wage of $38.75 an hour. Between them are Douglas and Leavenworth Counties
In Missouri, Saint Louis County takes the top spot with a living wage of $42.28, but the counties that make up Kansas City aren’t far behind.
Jackson County ranks 4th, with a living wage of $36.80. Platte County and Clay county are tied for tenth place, both with a living wage of $35.44.
There is no one definition of a living wage, but many consider it to be the hourly rate a resident must make in order to pay for the basic necessities of life. The cost of food, shelter and medical care are often included. Other expenses like clothing, toiletries, transportation, leisure activities, education, savings and emergency funds usually are not.
MIT’s Living Wage Calculator agrees with the findings of this study. The living wage it lists for one adult with two children in the city of Kansas City is $40.74 an hour.
Missouri’s minimum wage is currently significantly below these estimates, at $11.15 an hour. Kansas’ is even lower, at $7.25 an hour. Workers in Kansas City say these wages are unacceptable.
“I don’t care what your status is in our city, you can not survive on $11.15 unless you’re working 3 or 4 jobs,” said Terrence Wise, a McDonald’s employee who organizes with Stand Up KC, a local advocacy group for retail and fast food workers. “It’s almost an insult to workers.”
While the city of Kansas City pays its own employees a minimum of $15 an hour, a preemptive law from the state of Missouri prevents it from mandating this minimum wage for private employers.
Do you have more questions about the cost of living or working in Kansas City? Ask the Service Journalism team at kcq@kcstar.com.
.jpg)