Living Wage

In September, 1999, the City adopted a Living Wage ordinance that focuses on creating a wage rate that will increase the ability of employees to support their families, decrease the amount of poverty, and reduce the amount of taxpayer funded social services in Tucson.

In accordance with the City of Tucson’s Living Wage Ordinance, employees of city contractors and sub-contractors providing services to the city shall be paid a living wage by said contractors and sub-contractors for the hours expended providing services to the city, while on city property.

Effective January 1, 2025 and for the remainder of calendar year 2025, the living wage shall be as follows:

  • $17.15 if health insurance benefits are offered AND the contractor pays no less than 50% of the employee’s health benefits premium. 
  • $18.85 if health insurance benefits are not offered OR if the contractor pays less than 50% of the employee’s health benefits premium.

The Living Wage rates are adjusted each year on January 1st based on the rate of the City of Tucson inflation. The full Living Wage Ordinance can be found in the Tucson Procurement Code at the following link: https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/tucson/latest/tucson_az/0-0-0-21930.

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