The Sustainable Wage Standard measure the level of income needed to meet a family’s basic needs without public or private assistance. It includes the minimum necessities, but does not include longer-term needs such as college or retirement savings or short-term “luxuries” like dining out or holiday gifts.   What hourly wage does a Dane County family of four (two adults, a preschooler and a school-age child) need in 2010 to earn the Sustainable Wage Standard if both adults in the family work full time?

The report shows that both parents would need to earn $13.53 an hour.  This includes the following monthly expenses (inflated to 2010 dollars):