ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — Just Economics of Western North Carolina announced its 2026 living wage rates and the full resumption of its Living Wage Certification program across the region, including new wage thresholds and updated program rules.
In Buncombe County, the 2026 living wage rate will be $24.10 an hour, a 95-cent increase from 2025. Employers who pay at least that amount to all non-exempt workers are eligible to be certified as “Leading” Living Wage employers, the organization said.
Just Economics said the Buncombe County rate reflects the hourly wage needed for a single person working full-time to afford a one-bedroom apartment in the county. The calculation is based on a four-year rolling average of Fair Market Rent figures determined by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development…