Minimum pay is less than half a livable wage in Centre County. These jobs pay more
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.
Position: Engineering technician at Hillis-Carnes Engineering Associates Inc.
State College
$18 to $23 per hour
No experience necessary. Requirements include having a reliable vehicle for construction sites, pre-employment drug testing and background check, ability to move/lift up to 80 pounds and the ability to “perform basic mathematical procedures and use measurement tools.”
Position: Assistant manager at Jersey Mike’s
State College
$18 to $20 per hour, plus tips
No experience required.
Position: Roadside assistance driver with AAA Southern Pennsylvania
State College
$20 per hour
Driver’s license and high school diploma or equivalent required; prior experience not necessary.
Position: Lineman - fiber optic communication lines at Centre WISP
Centre Hall, Pa.
$24 to $32 per hour
Driver’s license required, must be 18 years or older. Prior experience is a plus.
Position: Travel customer service representative at Hertz Car Rental
State College
$18 per hour
High school diploma or GED required; one year customer service experience preferred.
