What Is a Living Wage?

"...to those who thought about it more deeply, it was about the force of particular moral propositions: first, that work should be rewarded, and second, that no one who works full time should have to live in poverty."


Name: Manuela Soto. Marital status: Single mom. Occupation: Assistant hotel housekeeper. Home: Santa Fe, N.M. Hourly wage before local "Living Wage" ordinance: $7.50. Hourly wage now: $9.50. What she'll do with raise: Pay bills faster, offset higher gas prices, buy more supplies for sons.











From left:
Name: Ivan Cornejo; Status: Single; Occupations: Cashier, librarian, student; Old Hourly Wage: $7; New Santa Fe "Living Wage": $9.50; What He'll Do With Raise: Leave one job to devote more time to studies, pay for books and tuition.

Name: Renea Feuster; Status: Single; Occupations: Restaurant server, cashier; Old Hourly Wage: $2.13 (before tips); New "Living Wage": $9.50; What She'll Do With Raise: Pay the rent, not "fall behind on car payments, credit cards and gas and electric."

Name: Kathairein Magdalena; Status: Divorced mother; Occupation: Office assistant; Old Hourly Wage: $9.25; New "Living Wage": $9.50; What She'll Do With Raise: Repair car so that she doesn't have to ride the bus, pay for health care, take some classes.











From left:
Name: Ted Owens Status: Divorced father; Occupation: Retail stock clerk; Old Hourly Wage: $8.69; New "Living Wage": $9.50; What He'll Do With Raise: "This town is too rich for life in retail and paying bills on time."

Name: Ramona Lovato; Status: Widow; Occupation: Janitor; Old Hourly Wage: $7.50; New "Living Wage": $9.50; What She'll Do With Raise: "Get caught up on everything. I'm behind on my mortgage, I'm behind on everything."

Name: Ashley Martinez; Status: Single; Occupations: Medical billing assistant, student; Old Hourly Wage: $6.50; New "Living Wage": $8.50; What She'll Do With Raise: "Pay for my tuition for college and for books."











From left:
Name: Magdalena Palma Status: Divorced mother; Occupations: Home health care, office cleaner.; Old Hourly Wage: $7; New "Living Wage": $9.50 What She'll Do With Raise: "I will be less stressed in worrying to cover all my bills and take care of my family."

Name: Pablo Perez; Status: Single; Occupation: Retail stock clerk; Old Hourly Wage: $6.50; New "Living Wage": $8; What He'll Do With Raise: "Fix up my car and move into my own apartment."

Name: Louis Alvarez; Status: Widower; Occupations: Cook at public school, hotel worker; Old Hourly Wage: $6.85; New "Living Wage": $9.50; What He'll Do With Raise: "Buy a pair of shoes and send some money to my family in Mexico."











From left: Name: Leyla Moreira; Status: Widow; Occupations: Grocery-store cashier; Old Hourly Wage: $5.75; New "Living Wage": $9.50; What She'll Do With Raise: "I will be able to get caught up with the cost of living in Santa Fe."

Name: Julio De Lira; Status: Civil union, father; Occupations: Produce clerk, line cook; Old Hourly Wage: $8; New "Living Wage": $12; What He'll Do With Raise: "Save a little. Pay off bills sooner. Maybe a small vacation."

Name: Christina Olivas; Status: separated mother; Occupation: Restuarant food preparation; Old Hourly Wage: $5.50; New "Living Wage": $9.50; What She'll Do With Raise: "Before, I had two jobs. Now I go in at 9 and leave at 5. I have time in the morning and in the afternoon to be with my family."











From left:
Name: Ines Cordelia Avila; Status: Single Occupation: Janitor; Old Hourly Wage: $7.50; New "Living Wage": $9.50; What She'll Do With Raise: "Take care of family."

Name: Colin Holmes; Status: Single; Occupation: Grocery Store Clerk; Old Hourly Wage: $6.50; New "Living Wage": $9.50; What He'll Do With Raise: "College Classes, movies, clothes, my own apartment."

Name: Maria Cornejo; Status: Single mother; Occupations: Preschool teacher, part-time organizer for "Living Wage"; Old Hourly Wage: $6.36; New "Living Wage": $9.50; What She'll Do With Raise: "Spend more time with my children."











From left:
Name: Virginia Martinez; Status: Single mother; Occupation: Cashier; Old Hourly Wage: $7.35; New "Living Wage": $9.50; What She'll Do With Raise: Cut down on hours; spend more time with her family.

Name: Aracely Cornejo; Status: Married mother; Occupation: Teacher's Assistant; Old Hourly Wage: $7.38; New "Living Wage": $9.50; What She'll Do With Raise: Spend on her family and her health and medicines "because I am a diabetic."

Name: Jennifer Knouse; Status: Single; Occupations: Cashier, restaurant manager; Old Hourly Wage: $7.50; New "Living Wage": $9.50; What She'll Do With Raise: "Pay for school, car, phone, rent, food. Help support siblings."

Photo Essay By:
Alessandra Petlin for
The New York Times

Read more: What Is a Living Wage? - Jon Gertner - New York Times