NH Seacoast Families Need This Minimum Salary for a Living Wage

New Hampshire is Expensive

There's no doubt about it. Here in New Hampshire and everywhere in the United States, prices have gone up for everything. We do have one thing that hasn't gone up in the Granite State, however. Sadly, it's the minimum wage. Let's break down how much money we need to live a decent life in Rockingham County, shall we?

These numbers are according to livingwage.mit.edu (which bases its stats on working full-time), and on the poverty wage estimates from the Department of Health and Human Services Poverty Guidelines for 2024.

In order for one adult without any children to survive in Rockingham County, you need to make a salary of approximately $46,000 per year for a "living wage". If you make minimum wage in the same place and work full-time, you would make $15,080 per year. That's poverty level. $31,000 less than what is required for a decent living.

The Required Living Wage for an individual in Rockingham County (and these are approximate):

1 Adult, No kids: $53K
1 Adult, 1 kid: $95K
1 Adult, 2 kids: $120K
1 Adult 3 kids: $157K

2 Adults, 1 working, No kids: $71K
2 Adults, 1 working, 1 kid: $88K
2 Adults, 1 working, 2 kids: $98K
2 Adults, 1 working, 3 kids: $105K

2 Adults, 2 working, No kids: $35K
2 Adults, 2 working, 1 kid: $53K
2 Adults, 2 working, 2 kids: $65K
2 Adults, 2 working, 3 kids: $78K

Did you laugh out loud?

Just for fun, let's break down what this would look like at the poverty level. Again, these are approximate individual yearly salaries before taxes:

1 Adult, No kids: $15K
1 Adult, 1 kid: $19K
1 Adult, 2 kids: $25K
1 Adult 3 kids: $31K

2 Adults, 1 working, No kids: $20K
2 Adults, 1 working, 1 kid: $25K
2 Adults, 1 working, 2 kids: $31K
2 Adults, 1 working, 3 kids: $36K

2 Adults, 2 working, No kids: $10K
2 Adults, 2 working, 1 kid: $12K
2 Adults, 2 working, 2 kids: $15K
2 Adults, 2 working, 3 kids: $18K

How does your salary compare with these numbers?

I really feel the way of the future for all of us is more than just one family living in a house. At this point, it may sound awful. However, there are upsides. Think about it. If you don't want to walk the dog, maybe there's someone at home who can. Or what if you fall and you can't get up? Someone may be there to help you. Either way, we're gonna be okay.