In the lower 48 states, a single adult earning $12,140 or less has an income below the poverty line. And in Louisiana, more than 100,000 full-time workers make less than $15,000 per year.
A new ranking from USA Today, based on census data, places Louisiana at No. 14 when it comes to the number percentage of full-time workers who make less than $15,000. California was No. 1, with more than 500,000 workers living on the edge of poverty.
Full-time employees who earn less than $15,000 are more common in states with lower educational attainment rates, many of which are located in the South. These states also have relatively high rates of residents who rely on SNAP, formerly known as food stamps, to help with groceries. These states also tend to have high unemployment rates. Workers may be forced to take low-paying jobs because of the difficult economic conditions in these states. Â
