U.S.: Minimum Wage Rates, by state
StateMinimum wage,
in USD
District of ColumbiaDistrict of Columbia17.00
WashingtonWashington16.28
CaliforniaCalifornia16.00
ConnecticutConnecticut15.69
New JerseyNew Jersey15.13
MarylandMaryland15.00
New YorkNew York15.00
MassachusettsMassachusetts15.00
ColoradoColorado14.42
ArizonaArizona14.35
OregonOregon14.20
MaineMaine14.15
Rhode IslandRhode Island14.00
IllinoisIllinois14.00
HawaiiHawaii14.00
VermontVermont13.67
DelawareDelaware13.25
MissouriMissouri12.30
NebraskaNebraska12.00
New MexicoNew Mexico12.00
FloridaFlorida12.00
VirginiaVirginia12.00
AlaskaAlaska11.73
NevadaNevada11.25
South DakotaSouth Dakota11.20
ArkansasArkansas11.00
MinnesotaMinnesota10.85
OhioOhio10.45
MichiganMichigan10.33
MontanaMontana10.30
West VirginiaWest Virginia8.75
OklahomaOklahoma7.25
PennsylvaniaPennsylvania7.25
KentuckyKentucky7.25
TexasTexas7.25
IowaIowa7.25
IndianaIndiana7.25
UtahUtah7.25
IdahoIdaho7.25
New HampshireNew Hampshire7.25
North DakotaNorth Dakota7.25
North CarolinaNorth Carolina7.25
KansasKansas7.25
WisconsinWisconsin7.25
GeorgiaGeorgia5.15
WyomingWyoming5.15
  • Region: United States
  • Time period: Jan 1, 2024
  • Published: Jan 2024

Data Analysis and Insights

Updated: Mar 28, 2024 | Published by: Statistico | About Us | Data sources

Highest Minimum Wage

District of Columbia leads with a minimum wage of $17.00, the highest among all states.

Top Five States by Minimum Wage

Washington, California, Connecticut, and New Jersey follow the District of Columbia, with minimum wages of $16.28, $16.00, $15.69, and $15.13 respectively, making up the top five.

States with Minimum Wage Equal to Federal Minimum

Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Texas, Iowa, Indiana, Utah, Idaho, New Hampshire, North Dakota, North Carolina, Kansas, and Wisconsin all have a minimum wage of $7.25, aligning with the federal minimum wage.

Lowest State-Specific Minimum Wages

Georgia and Wyoming have the lowest state-specific minimum wages at $5.15, below the federal minimum wage.

Average Minimum Wage of Top 10 States

The average minimum wage among the top 10 states is approximately $15.21, reflecting a significant premium over the federal minimum.

Variation in Minimum Wage Across States

The difference between the highest and lowest state-specific minimum wages is $11.85, highlighting the significant variation across the United States.

States with Minimum Wage Above $10 but Below $12

Arkansas, Minnesota, Ohio, Michigan, Montana have minimum wages between $10.33 and $11.00, showing moderate wage floors.

Number of States with Minimum Wage Below Federal Level

Only two states, Georgia and Wyoming, have a minimum wage below the federal level, at $5.15.

States Transitioning to Higher Wages

Every state listed, except for those at the federal minimum or below, is actively transitioning towards higher minimum wages, indicating a trend towards improving wage standards nationwide.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which state has the highest minimum wage?

The District of Columbia has the highest minimum wage of $17.00.

Which states have the lowest state-specific minimum wages?

The states with the lowest specific minimum wages are Georgia and Wyoming, both with $5.15.

What is the average minimum wage among the top 10 states?

The average minimum wage among the top 10 states is approximately $15.21.

How many states have a minimum wage below the federal level?

Only two states, Georgia and Wyoming, have a minimum wage below the federal level.

Terms and Definitions

Minimum Wage refers to the lowest remuneration that employers can legally pay their workers. It is usually expressed on an hourly, daily, or monthly basis. It is set by the law of a country to ensure that workers can maintain a certain standard of living, protect them from exploitation and combat poverty.

Living Wage is the minimum income necessary for a worker to meet their basic needs, including housing, food, utilities, transportation, health care, and a small amount of discretionary income. Unlike the minimum wage, the living wage should provide a satisfactory standard of living without the need for additional public assistance.

Federal Minimum Wage is the lowest wage rate that an employer can pay an employee as mandated by the United States Federal government. This rate serves as a baseline, but individual states or regions may enact their own minimum wage laws which could be higher than the Federal minimum wage.

State Minimum Wage is the lowest wage that employers can legally pay their employees in a specific state. It's set by individual state governments, and often varies from the Federal minimum wage. Some states follow the Federal standard, others set their own higher rates, while few don’t have a state minimum wage, defaulting to the Federal standard.

Exempt Employees are a category of workers that are exempt from certain provisions of the Federal Labor Laws, specifically from the minimum wage and overtime requirements. Typically, these employees tend to be salaried workers and hold executive, administrative, or professional positions.

Nonexempt Employees are workers who are covered by the provisions of the Federal Labor Laws. These employees must receive at least the federal minimum wage for hours worked up to 40 per week and they are entitled to overtime pay for hours worked beyond the standard 40-hour workweek.

Tipped Minimum Wage is a lower base wage paid to employees who earn a substantial part of their income from tips, such as restaurant servers or taxi drivers. Federal law allows employers to count a portion of an employee's tips towards the fulfillment of the minimum wage obligation, called a "tip credit". However, if an employee's tips combined with the employer's base wage do not equal the standard minimum wage, the employer must make up the difference.
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