As minimum wages continue to rise across the US, you might be surprised to learn which US states pay the lowest minimum wages in the country.
Federal Minimum
With record-high inflation and mounting interest rates in recent years, many Americans feel as though their paycheck just isn’t keeping up. And with a federal minimum wage of just $7.25, according to the US Department of Labor, it’s easy to see why.
Doing the Bare Minimum
While some states have taken the initiative to enforce a state minimum wage that far exceeds the federal rate, this is not true for many states that have set their minimum wages to meet the federal rate.
17 States
Let’s take a look at 17 US states that offer the lowest state minimum wages, not including the federal minimum wage rate.
1. Indiana
Indiana’s minimum wage rate is $7.25, the same as the federal minimum wage rate, which applies to employers with 2 or more employees. It also has a minimum wage of only $2.13 for tipped employees.
2. Wisconsin
Another state with a minimum wage that meets the federal minimum is Wisconsin. The midwestern state also offers a young worker “opportunity wage,” wherein employers can pay employees under 20 years old just $5.90 an hour.
3. Idaho
Like many on this list, Idaho also has a minimum wage rate that matches the federal rate. Some occupations are exempt from the $7.25 minimum, including tipped employees and student workers.
4. North Carolina
Employers in North Carolina are also required to meet the federal minimum wage of $7.25. Like Indiana, tipped employees receive just $2.13 directly from employers.
5. Kansas
Kansas also established a $7.25 minimum wage rate, with some exemptions. As of January 1 2024, all federal contractor employees in Kansas must be paid a minimum wage of $17.20 per hour.
6. Utah
The Utah state minimum wage is the same as the federal rate at $7.25. It was last changed in 2008 when it was raised from just $0.70 per hour to $6.55, and then to $7.25 to meet the federal rate.
7. Pennsylvania
The minimum wage in Pennsylvania is now $7.25, raised from $0.10 to $7.15 back in 2006, then again to meet the federal rate in 2009. A previous attempt to gradually increase the rate to $15 per hour was stalled by the State Senate Labor and Industry Committee last year.
8. Kentucky
Another state that matches the federal rate, Kentucky has a basic minimum wage rate of $7.25. In 2015 the cities of Lexington raised their local minimum wage to $8.20, a move which was later struck down by the State Supreme Court.
9. Texas
Workers in Texas earn the federal minimum wage, with the exception of certain occupations that are exempt under the law. These include domestic employees, farm and ranch workers, students, some seasonal workers, and others.
10. Iowa
While the minimum wage in Iowa is $7.25, there are some notable exceptions to this rule. For example, retail and service establishments that gross less than $300,000 per year are exempt from this rate, along with most supervisory and administrative employees.
11. Tennessee
Tennessee is one of 5 states that do not technically have any minimum wage laws. However, most employees in Tennessee are protected by the federal Fair Labor Standards Act.
12. South Carolina
Another state with no minimum wage law, South Carolina pays minimum wage workers $7.25 an hour, not including tipped employees, full-time students, and workers under 20.
13. Mississippi
The federal minimum wage law also applies to Mississippi, which has no set minimum wage. Prior to this change in 2009, minimum-wage employees made $6.55 from 2006 onwards, and just $0.70 an hour prior to that.
14. Louisiana
With no state minimum wage law, Louisiana workers make the federal minimum of $7.25 per hour. All employers are legally required to display a poster in the workplace informing employees of their right to a federal minimum wage.
15. Alabama
The southern state of Alabama currently has no minimum wage laws, meaning that most workers are subject to the federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour.
16. Georgia
The lowest minimum wage rate is paid in two states, one of which is Georgia. This southeastern state has a minimum wage of just $5.15 per hour. This does not apply to employers who are subject to the Fair Labor Standards Act and are required to pay the federal minimum wage.
17. Wyoming
Alongside Georgia, Wyoming also pays the lowest state minimum wage in the country at $5.15 per hour, with most employers subject to the Fair Labor Standards Act that requires the federal minimum.
Featured Image Credit: Shutterstock / Manop Boonpeng.
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