Minimum wage by state U.S. 2024

The federally mandated minimum wage in the United States is 7.25 U.S. dollars per hour, although the minimum wage varies from state to state. As of January 1, 2024, the District of Columbia had the highest minimum wage in the U.S., at 17 U.S. dollars per hour. This was followed by Washington, which had 16.28 U.S. dollars per hour as the state minimum wage.

Minimum wage workers

Minimum wage jobs are traditionally seen as “starter jobs” in the U.S., or first jobs for teenagers and young adults, and the number of people working minimum wage jobs has decreased from almost four million in 1979 to about 247,000 in 2020. However, the number of workers earning less than minimum wage in 2020 was significantly higher, at about 865,000.

Minimum wage jobs

Minimum wage jobs are primarily found in food preparation and serving occupations, as well as sales jobs (primarily in retail). Because the minimum wage has not kept up with inflation, nor has it been increased since 2009, it is becoming harder and harder live off of a minimum wage wage job, and for those workers to afford essential things like rent.

Minimum wage rates in the United States in 2024, by state (in U.S. dollars)

Characteristic	Minimum wage in U.S. dollars
District of Columbia	17
Washington	16.28
California	16
Connecticut	15.69
New Jersey******	15.13
Maryland	15
New York*******	15
Massachusetts	15
Colorado	14.42
Arizona	14.35
Oregon	14.2
Maine	14.15
Rhode Island	14
Illinois	14
Hawaii	14
Vermont	13.67
Delaware	13.25
Missouri	12.3
Nebraska	12
New Mexico	12
Florida*	12
Virginia	12
Alaska	11.73
Nevada*****	11.25
South Dakota	11.2
Arkansas	11
Minnesota***	10.85
Ohio********	10.45
Michigan	10.33
Montana****	10.3
West Virginia	8.75
Oklahoma*********	7.25
Pennsylvania	7.25
Kentucky	7.25
Texas	7.25
Iowa	7.25
Indiana	7.25
Utah	7.25
Idaho	7.25
New Hampshire	7.25
North Dakota	7.25
North Carolina	7.25
Kansas	7.25
Wisconsin	7.25
Georgia**	5.15
Wyoming	5.15

Loading statistic...

Download

Source

Show detailed source information?

Already a member?

Source

Use Ask Statista Research Service

Release date

January 2024

More information

Region

United States

Survey time period

January 1, 2024

Supplementary notes

Alabama, Tennessee, South Carolina, Mississippi, and Louisiana do not have a state minimum wage law.
*Florida minimum wage increases $1 every September 30 until it reaches $15 in 2026.
**In Georgia, the minimum wage for employers of six or more employees is $5.15 per hour, although employers subject to the Fair Labor Standards Act must pay the federally mandated minimum of $7.25 per hour.
***In Minnesota there are two minimum wage rates. The rate for large employers (annual receipts of more than $500,000) is $10.59. For employers with enterprises smaller than this the rate is $8.63.
****In Montana, businesses with gross annual sales of less than $110,000 not subject to the Fair Labor Standards Act may pay a minimum wage of $4.00 per hour.
******In Nevada, the minimum wage for employees with qualifying health insurance not offered by employer is $10.50. Employees with qualifying health insurance offered by their employer have a minimum wage of $9.50 per hour. On July 1, 2023 the Nevada minimum wage increased to $11.25 for employees not offered qualifying health insurance, and to $10.25 for employees offered health insurance. Effective July 1, 2024, there will be a uniform minimum wage of $12 per hour for all employees.
******In New Jersey, there is a minimum wage of $11.90 for seasonal and small employers who employ fewer than six people.
*******In New York, the statewide minimum wage is $14.20 per hour. For Long Island and Westchester, and in New York City, the rate is $15.00 per hour.
********In Ohio, businesses with gross annual sales of less than $305,000 may pay a minimum wage of $7.25 per hour.
*********In Oklahoma, businesses with gross annual sales of less than $100,000 or businesses with less than 10 employees may pay a minimum wage of $2.00 per hour.

Open this statistic in...

Spanish

Citation formats