The gap between average human service sector wages and cost of living in New York is ~$20,000.

Figure 10. Illustrating the Gap Between the Average Human Services Wage and Cost of Living for Single-Adult Household.
Note: The Self-Sufficiency Standard and the Living Wage Calculator are location specific.
Source: CUNY ISLG analysis of Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages data; Self-Sufficiency Standard at the Center for Women’s Welfare, University of Washington; U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; Amy K. Glasmeier, “Living Wage Calculator,” Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2024.Download imageCreated with Datawrapper