In Oklahoma, we have often taken pride in being an affordable place to live with opportunities for individuals and families to find stability and success. We consistently rank as one of the states with the lowest regional price parities in the nation. But for the thousands of Oklahomans earning the current minimum wage of $7.25, that “affordability” is more of a myth.
Our new report performed by Scioto Analysis reveals this staggering reality: for a single adult in Oklahoma to afford a basic “Household Survival Budget,” they have to work nearly double the hours of a standard full-time job.
However, if voters mobilize to raise the minimum wage in June of this year, a single full-time job would be enough to survive in Oklahoma for the first time in decades. The report shows that by raising the wage, we wouldn’t just lift 40,000 people out of poverty—we would give them back nearly 40 hours of their lives every single week.
The Math of Survival
What does it actually cost to live in Oklahoma today? According to the Tulsa United Way’s ALICE in Oklahoma report, 45% of Oklahoma workers are unable to afford basic necessities without assistance.The most meager monthly budget for a single adult that covers only housing, food, transportation, health care, technology, and taxes totals $2,315. To hit that number on a $7.25/hour salary, a worker must clock 319 hours per month.
That isn’t just a full-time job. It is 74 hours every single week. This puts Oklahoma workers in an impossible position with no flexibility for illness, childcare considerations, transportation issues, or other unpredictable circumstances.
The “Time Tax” on Low-Wage Workers
When we talk about the minimum wage, we often talk about dollars. But we should also be talking about time.
When a worker is forced to work 74 hours a week just to cover the basics, they are effectively barred from participating in the community. That is time stolen from:
- Raising children and helping with homework.
- Continuing education or job training.
- Rest, which is essential for health and workplace productivity.
- Supporting local businesses (because there is no time—or money—left to spend).
Our report highlights that since 2008, the cost of living in Oklahoma has risen by 33% while the minimum wage has remained stagnant. We are asking our lowest-paid workers to do the impossible: survive on 2008 wages in a 2026 economy.
Turning 74 Hours into 36
However, we as a state have an opportunity to get things back on track.The upcoming vote to raise the state minimum wage to $15 an hour isn’t just about a paycheck; it’s about the return to a standard work week that allows everyone in our community to thrive.
According to the report’s microsimulation, at $15 an hour, that same “survival budget” could be met in 154 hours per month. That is roughly 36 hours per week.
The Bottom Line
Oklahoma can be the most affordable state in the region, but only if our wages reflect our reality. Raising the minimum wage to $15 doesn’t just make sense for the economy; it makes sense for the Oklahomans who are tired of working two lifetimes’ worth of hours just to keep the lights on.
Want to dive deeper into the data?
Check out the full report here: “Poverty and Cost of Living in Oklahoma: Minimum Wage Impacts.”
