What salary puts you in poverty?

Written by Editorial Team | Last Updated: August 2026

The official federal poverty guidelines published annually by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services establish the income thresholds that define poverty. For a single individual living in the contiguous United States, an annual pre-tax income falling below approximately $15,000 is classified as living in poverty. For a family of four, the poverty threshold is set around $31,000. These federal metrics are utilized across government agencies to determine eligibility for various public assistance and social support programs.

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