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As of January 1, 2026, the District of Columbia had the highest minimum wage in the U.S., at U.S. dollars per hour. This was followed by the state of * which had U.S. dollars per hour as the state minimum wage. Although minimum wages vary from state to state, five U.S. states do not have minimum wage legislation. Therefore, the federally mandated minimum wage of 7.25 U.S. dollars per hour applies there.

Many below the minimum

Minimum wage jobs in America are often viewed as “starter” roles for teenagers and young adults. The number of workers earning the federal minimum wage has dropped from nearly **** million in 1979 to fewer than ** in 2024, as higher state and local minimums and wage growth have pulled many above that threshold. At the same time, around ** workers still earned less than the federal floor in 2024.

When the minimum wage falls behind

Minimum wage work in America is concentrated in food preparation and serving jobs. Because the federal minimum has neither kept pace with inflation nor risen since 2009, its real value has steadily eroded. That makes it ever harder for low paid workers to cover basic living costs.