Minimum pay is less than half of a livable wage in Centre County, according to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s living wage calculator. With the costs of food, housing and other necessities increasing, it’s becoming even more difficult to take care of basic needs with low wages.

The minimum wage a Centre County resident needs to make in order to afford food, housing, medical care, transportation and similar necessary expenses is $17.61 for one adult with no children, according to MIT.

Pennsylvania’s minimum wage for non-tipped workers is currently $7.25, the lowest standard pay allowed by federal law, and tipped workers can make a base pay of as little as $2.83 per hour.

What constitutes a livable wage depends on the number of dependents someone supports, as well as whether another adult in the household works full-time.

Here are a few of MIT’s livable wage calculations for Centre County:

• $17.61 is livable for one adult without children

• $31.30 for one adult with one child

• $38.62 for one adult with two children

• $25.95 for two adults with one working full-time (no children)

• $30.47 for two adults and one child, with one adult working

• $12.98 for two adults, both working, with no children

• $17.31 for two adults, both working, with one child

The Centre Daily Times has rounded up State College-area job postings with minimal education and experience requirements that advertise wages of $17.61 or more per hour. Listings are current as of Dec. 8.

• State College

• $18 to...

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