MIT "Living Wage Calculator" shows Oklahomans can't survive on minimum wage

OKLAHOMA CITY — Most people can't live on $7.25 an hour, but a top research university says you will need to cough up some extra change to live in the Oklahoma City Metro.

According to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's (MIT) "Living Wage Calculator," Oklahomans must make at least $7.98 an hour to cover basic living expenses. In Oklahoma County, a single adult must make at least $8.19 an hour to survive.

"It leaves no room for any emergencies, medical expenses, or any unexpected expenses," said Michael Jones, Executive Director of the Oklahoma Association of Community Action Agencies.

The Oklahoma Association of Community Action Agencies works with several organizations that combat poverty across the state. Jones says the findings are not surprising, but draw attention to the increased cost of living in Oklahoma.

"The biggest increase we've seen lately has been in food cost and for fuel cost," he explained.

According to the "Living Wage Calculator," a single adult in Oklahoma County will pay at least $242 each month for groceries and $318 each month in transportation expenses. Pain at the pump and increased grocery bills have even middle class families struggling.

"Gas prices need to go down," said Sunny Graham, a resident of the Oklahoma City Metro, "that's a struggle every time we fill up our gas tank."

Jones says the findings from MIT draw attention to the need to raise minimum wage. He says many states have chosen to set their minimum wage above $7.25 an hour.

"That's specifically to ensure that the low income families are not suffering more than they have to," he said.

The "Living Wage Calculator" shows a family of four, with two adults and two children must make at least $36,446 each year to cover basic living expenses. According to the US Census Bureau, that's well below the Oklahoma's average salary of $44,287, but many Oklahomans believe when it becomes impossible for people to survive on minimum wage, change must happen.

"Our government needs to help us out a little more," said Donald Terry, another resident of the Oklahoma City Metro.

Although the study from MIT draws attention to the rising cost of living, Oklahoma's living wage is still well below most surrounding states.