Employment Opportunities That Pay a Living Wage

Many people in Darke County live in the economic gap. Their income is too high for safety net support — like SNAP benefits (food stamps), Medicaid and housing support — but their wages are too low to realistically get by. As importantly, when the safety net is broken, things like housing vouchers and other supports might not be available.

In February 2026, the Living Wage Calculator from MIT published its findings for Darke County, OH. In short, the minimum living wage for a single person with no dependents is $20.69 per hour, and the minimum living wage for a household with 2 adults and no other dependents is $28.19 per hour. You can learn more about how these figures increase with children and other dependents by exploring the Living Wage Calculator.*

Employment Opportunities

Here, we'll display free listings from employers in Darke County, OH who pay a living wage. We'll also include markers of those who intentionally reduce employment barriers, such as:

• Having recovery-minded workplace policies and procedures
• Hiring people who have been previously incarcerated or have had felony convictions
• Including recovery status, sexual orientation and gender identity in their nondiscrimination policies
• Providing reason-free paid time off (PTO) accrual starting immediately
• Providing additional hands-on support for people with physical, cognitive, and mental health needs
• Others identified by the Task Force

*The Living Wage calculator reports a minimum living wage of $14.05 each for a dual income household with no other dependents. However, should one person's income be reduced, the household will be in crisis and in the economic gap. This is why the Task Force does not consider $14.05 a living wage for a multi-person household.