Skip to content

Wednesday, Jul. 17, 2024

Do nearly two-thirds of Americans say they live paycheck to paycheck?


yes

Three national polls done in 2024 found nearly two-thirds of Americans said they are living paycheck to paycheck.

That means 66% said they spend as much as they earn each month making it difficult to save for the future, a MarketWatch Guides survey found.

The figure was 65% in a poll by CNBC and SurveyMonkey and 65% in a PYMNTS Intelligence report.

Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin claimed July 16, 2024, at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee that under President Joe Biden, “66% of Americans now live paycheck to paycheck.”

Similar 2024 polls found lower percentages.

58% of registered voters in a NewsNation/Decision Desk HQ poll said they are living paycheck to paycheck.

40% of Americans said they are unable to plan beyond their next paycheck, according to a National True Cost of Living Coalition-commissioned poll.

A Bankrate poll of workers found 34% said they are living paycheck to paycheck.

See a full discussion of this at Wisconsin Watch

This fact brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.

About fact briefs

Fact briefs are bite-sized, well-sourced explanations that offer clear "yes" or "no" answers to questions, confusions, and unsupported claims circulating online. They rely on publicly available data and documents, often from the original source. Fact briefs are written and published by Gigafact contributor publications.

See all fact briefs

Wisconsin Watch, the news arm of the nonpartisan, nonprofit Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism, increases the quality and quantity of investigative reporting in Wisconsin, while training current and future investigative journalists. Its work fosters an informed citizenry and strengthens democracy.

Learn More

Be a Friend of facts

Help us fund more great fact briefs like this one.