Here Is The Minimum Wage In Every State In America In 2023
Minimum wage in America is all over the map. While many states have increased the wages for these workers, a lot of states are still adhering to the Federal Minimum Wage ($7.25) or lower. As you will see below, some big cities even have different minimum wage requirements than the states they are in. We have also include the Median Household Income in every state to emphasize how far away most low wage employees are from the lower middle class. In fact, there is only one state in the US where a two earner household (both making full-time minimum wage) could sniff the median house hold income.
Minimum Wage In Every State In America In 2023
Alabama
The Median household income in in Alabama is currently $51,734. In 2020, the states minimum wage was $7.25. As of 2022, the state has sustained its minimum wage keeping it at $7.25.
Alaska
The Median household income in in Alaska is currently $75,463. In 2020, the state’s minimum wage was $10.19. As of 2023, the state has raised the minimum wage to $10.85.
Arizona
The median household income in in Arizona is currently $62,055. In 2020, the states minimum wage was $12.00. As of 2023, the state has raised the minimum wage to $13.85
Arkansas
The median household income in in Arkansas is currently $48,952. The 2020 minimum wage was $10.00. The 2023 minimum wage is $11.00. If you are a minimum wage employee, Arkansas might be the best state to live. In fact, if a two person household, where both of whom earned a full-time minimum wage, would only be $3,000 below the medium household income for the entire state. No other state is even close under that scenario.
California
California has one of the highest median household income at $80,440. It also has one of the highest minimum wages in the nation as well. In 2020, the minimum wage in California was $13.00. They have since raised it to $15.50 in 2023.
Colorado
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The median household income in in Colorado is currently $77,127. In 2020, the states minimum wage was $12.00. In 2021, it raised the wage to $12.32. As of January 2022, the state has raised its minimum wage to $13.65. This increase only equates to an extra $499 per year for a full-time worker.
Connecticut
The median household income in in Connecticut is currently $78,833. In 2020, the states minimum wage was $12.00. In 2021, the state raised its minimum wage to $13.00 and in June of 2023 it will be raised to $15.00.
Delaware
The median household income in Delaware is currently $70,176. In 2022, Delaware was one of 21 states that increased its minimum hourly wage. In 2020, the state’s minimum wage was $9.25. Starting in 2023, the minimum wage is $11.75.
Florida
The state of Florida has a median household income of $59,227. On September 30, 2021, the state raised its minimum wage from $8.56 to $10.00. Effective September 30, 2023 the state minimum wage will increase to $12.00
Georgia
Georgia coming in with a state minimum wage so low you have to wonder how it is even legal. Actually it isn’t in some cases because some employers have to pay the federal minimum wage of $7.25 if they are forced to adhere to the Fair Labor Standards Act. Although the current minimum wage in Georgia is $5.15, the median household income is still $61,980
Hawaii
On to Hawaii, the state we’d all love to retire if we could only afford it! The median household income in the Aloha state is $83,102. While its minimum hourly wage is far from being the lowest in the country, the current $10.10 wage has remained unchanged from 2020.
Idaho
The median household income in Idaho, aka The Gem State is $60,999. What is not so much of a gem, however, is the state’s minimum hourly wages. Since 2020, hourly workers in the state most known for potatoes and a blue football field have been stuck on a wage of $7.25. Hopefully there will be an uptick in 2023 and beyond.
Illinois
Illinois is ranks among the highest median household income for midwestern states at $69,187 per year. In line with that, it also ranks very high in the region for its minimum hourly wages. In 2020, the lowest hourly wage for workers was $10.00. In 2023, that number is a full $3 higher at $13.00 per hour. Now, if only some of Illinois’ neighboring states could follow suit.
Indiana
Currently, the median household income in the hoosier state is $57,603. And, like many other midwestern states, Indiana’s state-level minimum hourly wage in both 2020 and 2023 remains a paltry $7.25.
Iowa
The median household income in Iowa is $61,691. While the state’s median income may not rank among the worst in the U.S., Iowa’s minimum wage, like Indiana and several other midwestern states, is only $7.25.
Kansas
The median household income in Kansas is $62,087. In 2020, the Sunflower state’s minimum wage was $7.25. Like most of its midwest brethren, the state’s 2023 minimum hourly wage has remained unchanged.
Kentucky
Next on our list is Kentucky, the Bluegrass state. Home to the Kentucky Derby and one of college basketball’s biggest powerhouse programs the Kentucky Wildcats. The median household income in the state of Kentucky is $52,295. Like Kansas and others, Kentucky’s minimum wage is a static $7.25.
Louisiana
At time of publication, the median household income in Louisiana is $51,073. That said, there is a lot left to be desired for minimum wage workers in the home of New Orleans, Mardi Gras, the Saints, and so many other culturally significant tentpoles. Currently, and since 2020, the state-level minimum wage in Louisiana is only $7.25.
Maine
The current annual median household income in the state of Maine is $58,924. In the calendar year 2020, the state-level minimum hourly wages was $12.00. As of 2023, that has since been increased to $13.80.
Maryland
Maryland isn’t just crabs and football, it is home to one of the highest median household incomes in all the U.S. at a whopping $86,738. On top of that, Maryland is also one of the 11 states that plan on raising the states minimum wage to $15.00 in the near future. Until then, the current minimum hourly wage is $13.25.
Massachusetts
Like Maryland above, Massachusetts (home to Mark Wahlberg and literally nothing else – we kid!) has a very high median household income of $85,843. Massachusetts recently raised it’s minimum hourly wage to $15.00. Which is up $2.25 per hour from 2020.
Michigan
Michigan’s median household income is $59,580. In 2020, the state’s minimum wage for hourly workers was $9.65. In 2023, that wage has only been raised to $10.10. While it is certainly not as low as states that are paying the federal minimum, an extra 45 cents per hour doesn’t make much of an impact a person’s bank account.
Minnesota
The Median household income in Minnesota is currently $74,593. In 2020, the states’ minimum wage was $10.00. As of January 2023, Minnesota’s minimum wage is now $10.59.
Mississippi
The current median household income in Mississippi is $45,792. Mississippi is a great example of a state that could do a lot for their lowest earning citizens by raising their minimum wage. If you were contemplating living in Mississippi or Arkansas — which is the state with the second lowest median household income — it would be an easy decision based solely on earning potential. Unlike Arkansas, Mississippi’s minimum wage has remained at $7.25 since 2020.
Missouri
The median household income in the great state of Missouri is currently $57,409. And, the state’s minimum wage has gone up $2.55 per hour since 2020, when it was $9.45. At time of update, the current state-level minimum wage is $12.00.
Montana
Montana has a median household income of $57,153. In 2020, the state’s minimum wage was $8.65, which is $1.40 per hour above the federal minimum wage. In 2023, however, the minimum hourly wage for employees is $9.95.
Nebraska
The median household income in the Cornhusker state is $63,229. From 2020 to 2022, the state-level minimum hourly wage remained unchanged. In 2023, however, the state minimum wage is up from $9.00 to $10.50 per hour.
Nevada
Nevada, the home of Sin City and a current median household income of $63,276. In 2020, the state’s minimum wage was $8.00. In 2023, Nevada’s minimum wage is up to $11.25, effective in July.
New Hampshire
The current median household income in New Hampshire is $77,933. Like many of its neighboring states, New Hampshire has a fairly high household income. Unlike many of its neighboring states, however, New Hampshire only requires the federal minimum wage of $7.25 to be paid to hourly workers.
New Jersey
The median household income in Tony Soprano’s favorite state is $85,751. In 2020, the state had a minimum wage of just $11.00. In 2023, it has increased that amount to $14.13. And, say what you want about New Jersey (go ahead, we can wait) but it is one of the 11 states that plans to raise their minimum wage to $15.00 very soon.
New Mexico
New Mexico (located not too far from Old Mexico) has a median household income of $51,945. Since 2020, the state has increased their minimum wage by $2.50 an hour all the way up to $12.00 in 2023.
New York
The median household income in the state of New York is $72,108. The the state-wide minimum wage for 2023 is $14.20, up from $11.80 in 2020. It is, however, worth noting that New York City, Long Island and West Chester all have a $15.00 minimum wage.
North Carolina
The Tar Heel State has a median household income of $57,341. And, like far too many other states on this list, North Carolina is clinging on to paying hourly workers a minimum wage of only $7.25.
North Dakota
The current median household income in “The Other Dakota” is $64,577. Unlike its more generous brother, South Dakota (found later on this alphabetical list), North Dakota only pays its hourly workers a minimum wage of $7.25 per hour.
Ohio
For starters, the median household income in the Buckeye state is $58,642. In 2021, Ohio won the award for the lowest increase of states that made an increase in 2021. On a 40 hour work week, Ohio gave employees an extra $4 every week. In 2023, Ohio upped their minimum hourly wage to $10.10, which added an additional $.50 per hour for minimum wage workers.
Oklahoma
Oklahoma’s median household income is $54,449. The Sooner State is yet another that is holding strong with a measly $7.25 minimum wage for hourly workers.
Oregon
And now we are on to Oregon, home of Nike and probably a lot of other cool stuff. The current median household income in Oregon is $67,058. Oregon is unique in that it has three different minimum wage levels: Standard $12,75, Portland Metro $14.00 and Nonurban Counties $12.00. These will all increase in July of 2023.
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania is home to the Liberty Bell, delicious Cheesesteaks, and Dunder Mifflin. It is also home to a median household income of $63,463. In terms of minimum wage, Pennsylvania has taken more of a midwest approach. Currently, the state-level minimum wage is at $7.25.
Rhode Island
Rhode Island’s median household income is currently $71,169. Since 2020, the state has raised their minimum wage from $10.50 all the way up to $13.00. Beyond that, Rhode Island is one of the 11 states that plan to raise their minimum wager for hourly workers to $15.00. Good on ya, RI!
South Carolina
The median household income in South Carolina is $56,227. Like its brother to the north (North Caroline for anyone who couldn’t connect those dots) South Carolina’s minimum wage remains at the stagnant level of $7.25 per hour.
South Dakota
South Dakota AKA The More Generous Dakota has a median household income of $59,533. In 2020, South Dakota’s minimum wage was $9.30 per hour. In 2023, that wage has increased to $10.80, which is much more than the $7.25 North Dakota is offering.
Tennessee
The median household income in Tennessee is $56,071. Like Texas below, Tennessee is home to zero state income taxes. It is also home to a very low minimum wage of $7.25 for hourly employees.
Texas
The great state of Texas boasts a median household income: $64,034. Although the Lone Star state has no state income tax (which is a huge plus to living there) they also only adhere to paying hourly employees the federal minimum wage of $7.25 (which isn’t a lot of money to live on).
Utah
Utah has a median household income: $75,780, which is surprisingly high when you factor in the state’s minimum wage remains at the federal level of $7.25.
Vermont
Now we are onto Vermont, the Green Mountain State, where the median household income is currently $63,001. Vermont also has one of the higher minimum wages in the country at $13.18 per hour. This is up since 2020 when the minimum hourly wage was $10.96.
Virginia
Virginia is for lovers and it is also for the most extreme change in minimum wage since 2020. First things first, the median household income in Virginia is $76,456. Since 2020, Virginia has increased its minimum hourly wage nearly $5.00 per hour. In 2020, the rate was $7.25. In 2023, it is $12.00.
Washington
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The median household income in Washington state is $78,687. The state has seen its minimum wage increase of over two full dollars per hour since 2020 when it was $13.50. As of January 2023, the currently minimum wage is $15.74.
Washington D.C.
Although not an official state, Washington D.C. has the second highest minimum wage in the country at $15.20. It also happens to have a high median household income of $85,203.
West Virginia
The current median household income in West Virginia is $48,850. Unfortunately for residents of the state, West Virginia is not one of the states that raised its wages for 2023. In fact, the states minimum wage is the same in 2023 as it was in 2020…$8.75.
Wisconsin
The current median household income in the state of Wisconsin is $64,168. In 2023, the state’s minimum wage is $7.25. As of the time of publication, the state has not increased its minimum wage since 2020.
Wyoming
Last, and definitely least is Wyoming, where the median household income is $65,003. The state’s minimum wage has remained unchanged since 2020 and it remains a very low $5.15. Just like Georgia, employers in Wyoming have to pay the federal minimum wage of $7.25 if they are forced to adhere to the Fair Labor Standards Act. Either way…Do better, Wyoming.
Final Thoughts
While each state has it’s own, state-level minimum wage, it is important to remember that a lot of major metropolitan areas have their own minimum wage which exceeds state minimums. And, while the numbers above are reflective of the current environment, eleven states —California, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, and Virginia—plan to raise, or have raised their state-level minimum wage to $15 an hour.