Here’s how much you need to earn a living wage in Texas in 2026, data shows
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If it feels like your paycheck isn’t stretching as far in Texas, you’re not imagining it.
Prices in North Texas have risen about 3% over the past year, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
New data from the MIT Living Wage Calculator shows how much people actually need to earn to afford things like housing, food and transportation in 2026.
For many households, that number is far higher than the $7.25 federal minimum wage.
Here’s what to know.
What is considered a living wage in Texas in 2026?
The MIT Living Wage Calculator estimates how much people need to earn to cover basic expenses by working full-time (2,080 hours per year) in Texas.
A single adult with no children needs about $21.77 an hour to make a living wage in the state of Texas, according to MIT data.
That jumps to $35.77 with one child, $44.95 with two, and $56.14 an hour with three.
For two-adult households with one income, the hourly wage needed ranges from $29.34 with no children to $43.35 with three children.
If both adults are working, the required pay per person is lower, but still well above minimum wage, ranging from $14.67 an hour with no children to $29.51 with three children.
How much do basic expenses cost in Texas?
Housing, food and transportation make up a large share of everyday costs in Texas.
A single adult spends about $14,679 a year on housing, along with roughly $3,888 on food and about $9,013 on transportation, according to MIT’s breakdown of costs.
Those costs increase for households with children, especially when child care is factored in.
Care for one child can cost about $9,724 a year and rises to more than $26,000 for three children.
How does Texas minimum wage compare to a living wage?
Texas’ minimum wage hasn’t changed, but the cost of living has. At $7.25 an hour, a full-time worker earns roughly $15,000 a year before taxes.
For families, the gap is even larger.
A single parent with one child needs nearly five times the minimum wage, and households with multiple children need even more to get by.
What types of jobs pay enough to meet the living wage in Texas?
Some industries in Texas come closer to meeting living wage levels than others.
Healthcare practitioners earn about $97,480 annually, while construction jobs average around $53,690 and installation and repair roles bring in about $58,300, according to MIT’s calculations.
Other fields fall well below what’s needed to cover basic expenses.
Food service workers earn about $31,040 a year, healthcare roles average around $33,000, and building and maintenance jobs come in near $34,280.
