What Are Basic Needs?
Your basic needs, or living wage, is calculated based on the area you live in and several common factors.
Basic needs budget = Food cost + child care cost + (insurance premiums + out of pocket health care costs)
+ housing cost + transportation cost + other necessities cost + civic engagement + broadband
Hourly pay is based on the salary
each working adult must earn to support the
basic needs of their family.
As of 2022, a single adult living in Dallas County, will need to earn $17.82 per hour to support their
basic needs.
A single adult with one child, will need to earn $33.62 per hour to support the
basic needs of their family.
Two working adults with one child, will
each need to earn $18.43 an hour to support the
basic needs of their family.
To see how your needs compare with others, review the list below to find the minimum hourly salary needed for each family.
One Adult in Household
$17.82
1 Adult
$33.62
1 Adult, 1 Child
$41.27
1 Adult, 2 Children
$53.89
1 Adult, 3 Children
Two Adults in Household
(Only One Working)
$26.63
2 Adults
$32.32
2 Adults, 1 Child
$37.43
2 Adults, 2 Children
$41.18
2 Adults, 3 Children
Two Adults in Household
(Both Working)
$13.32
2 Adults
$18.43
2 Adults, 1 Child
$23.25
2 Adults, 2 Children
$27.40
2 Adults, 3 Children