About

A living wage is defined as a wage range that allows workers to pay for basic necessities, such as food and housing, without assistance from others. Living wages are often significantly higher than the minimum wage in any given locality. The Virginia Living Wage Certification Program serves as a lever to raise wage standards as well as encouraging patronage of values-aligned businesses- promoting the positive impact of living wages.

Your Community Wins.

Living wage businesses report that higher base pay and benefits attract more qualified employees, decreases employee turnover, and boosts employee morale and productivity.

Local communities also gain when workers’ wages increase. The subsequent increase in spending circulates money back into local economies, which supports communities and spurs job growth.

We are in all Major Regions in the Commonwealth

The Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy has spearheaded the creation of multiple Living Wage Certification programs across the Commonwealth. The Richmond and Northern Virginia programs launched in 2018. Charlottesville and Harrisonburg launched in 2019. The addition of our statewide certification program in 2021 allows employers outside these localities and/or with multiple locations across the Commonwealth to be recognized as living wage employers.