What is the least paying state?

The "least paying state" depends on the metric, but Mississippi often leads as having the lowest median earnings and cheapest cost of living, while Georgia, Wyoming, and Oklahoma have the lowest stated minimum wages ($5.15 or less), though most workers there fall under the federal $7.25 minimum. Other low-wage states include West Virginia, Louisiana, and Alabama.

What is the lowest paid state in the US?

The "lowest paying state" depends on the metric, but Mississippi often appears as the lowest for overall wages/income, while Georgia, Wyoming, and Oklahoma have the lowest listed minimum wages (though the $7.25 federal minimum usually applies), and Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, and Tennessee have no state minimum wage above federal, meaning they rely on the $7.25 federal rate.
 

What states have a $15 an hour minimum wage?

As of early 2026, many states have minimum wages at or above $15, including Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Missouri, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Washington, and D.C., with rates often increasing annually, like California's $16.90 and Washington's $17.13 in 2026, though some like New Jersey and New York have tiered rates or higher for specific areas. 

What state has the highest minimum wage?

As of early 2026, Washington state has the highest statewide minimum wage at $17.13 per hour, with Washington D.C. having the absolute highest rate overall at $17.95; other high-wage states include Connecticut ($16.94), California ($16.90), and New York (varying by region). Many states adjust their minimum wage annually for inflation, leading to these higher rates compared to the federal minimum of $7.25.
 

What state has the lowest cost of living?

Mississippi consistently ranks as the state with the lowest cost of living, driven by exceptionally low housing, transportation, and overall expenses, making money stretch furthest, though it also faces high poverty rates. Other very affordable states include West Virginia, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Alabama, Kansas, Indiana, Iowa, South Dakota, and North Dakota, with low costs for housing, groceries, and utilities. 

States with NO State Income Tax!!!! Tax Friendly States

What is the cheapest but safest state to live in?

For the best combination of cheap and safe, consider states like Iowa, Kansas, Mississippi, West Virginia, and Arkansas, which consistently rank high in affordability (low housing, groceries, overall cost of living) while also offering manageable safety, with Vermont and New Hampshire often topping pure safety lists, though they are pricier. The ideal balance depends on whether you prioritize the lowest cost (Mississippi) or strong safety (Vermont), with Midwestern/Southern states generally offering lower expenses and Northern/New England states often leading in safety metrics. 

What is the #1 best state to live in?

There's no single "best" state, as it depends on priorities, but recent studies from WalletHub (Aug 2025) and U.S. News (May 2025) frequently place Massachusetts, Idaho, New Jersey, and Utah at the top for overall quality of life, balancing strong economies, good education, healthcare, and low crime. Massachusetts excels in education/healthcare, while Idaho and Utah are praised for economic growth and stability, and New Hampshire for safety. 

What 5 states have no minimum wage?

At present, 34 states, territories, and districts have set minimum wages higher than the federal minimum of $7.25 per hour. Five states, including Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, and Tennessee, have not implemented a state minimum wage.

What state pays the highest per hour?

While Washington D.C. often leads in average hourly pay when included, Washington State generally has the highest average hourly earnings among the 50 U.S. states, with Massachusetts and California also consistently near the top, though the exact ranking shifts slightly based on the specific data source and recent wage adjustments for 2026. 

Where in the US is the minimum wage $20?

Certain areas of California and Washington offer a minimum wage of over $20 an hour. Minimum wages increased on July 1, 2025 across several U.S. states and cities. These increases vary by location and industry, with higher wages often limited to specific sectors like hospitality or healthcare.

Is minimum wage enough to live on?

No, the federal minimum wage ($7.25/hour) is not enough to live on in the U.S. in 2025, as it falls below the poverty line and workers often need to work over 80 hours weekly just to afford housing, with even higher state minimums often insufficient in high-cost areas like California due to expensive living costs, making a true living wage closer to $20-$26+ depending on location and family needs. 

What states' minimum wage is going up in 2026?

New York, California, Maine, Michigan, Missouri and Ohio are among states boosting the lowest someone can be paid for an hourly wage. The biggest increase is in Hawaii, which is raising its minimum wage by $2 an hour. Florida, Alaska and Oregon will also raise their pay requirements later in 2026.

Is $40,000 a year considered poor?

A $40,000 salary is classified as lower-middle class, which is defined as households that earn between $30,001 and $58,020 a year.

Which state pays well?

Massachusetts consistently ranks as the highest-paying state by average or median salary, followed closely by New York, Washington, and California, though the District of Columbia (a federal district, not a state) often leads overall due to high federal salaries and tech jobs. These states boast strong sectors like tech, biotech, and finance, driving high wages despite often higher costs of living. 

What is Texas's minimum wage?

Texas's minimum wage is $7.25 per hour, the same as the federal minimum wage, as the state has not passed its own law to increase it beyond this rate, which has been in place since 2009. When federal and state laws conflict, employees are entitled to the higher rate, but in Texas, the federal rate applies.
 

What state pays the highest minimum wage?

As of early 2026, Washington state has the highest statewide minimum wage at $17.13 per hour, while Washington, D.C., though not a state, leads the nation overall with $17.95/hour, with some cities in Washington state having even higher local rates, like Tukwila at $21.65/hour. Several other states, including California ($16.90), Connecticut ($16.94), New York ($17.00 in some areas), and Hawaii ($16.00), also have high minimum wages that increased in 2026.
 

What is a living wage?

A living wage is simply the minimum hourly amount that a full-time worker must earn to afford basic necessities. In this case, a full-time worker is defined as someone who works at least 2,080 hours a year.

What is the Florida minimum wage right now?

Florida's minimum wage is currently $14.00 per hour, effective September 30, 2025, as part of a voter-approved plan to gradually raise it to $15.00 by September 30, 2026, with $1 annual increases occurring each September. 

Is Walmart going to $18 an hour?

Starting in early March, store employees will make between $14 and $19 an hour. They currently earn between $12 and $18 an hour, according to Walmart spokeswoman Anne Hatfield.

What is the lowest paid position at Walmart?

Hourly pay at Walmart.com ranges from an average of $12.62 to $22.96 an hour. Walmart.com employees with the job title Maintenance Technician make the most with an average hourly rate of $23.78, while employees with the title Cashier make the least with an average hourly rate of $13.65.

What jobs at Walmart have the highest pay?

The highest paying role reported at Walmart is Product Manager at the E1 level with a yearly total compensation of $768,667. This includes base salary as well as any potential stock compensation and bonuses.

Which state has the lowest crime?

Top 10 Safest States in America

1. New Hampshire. New Hampshire is the safest state in the entire United States. ...
2. Maine. It has the lowest rates of both violent (103 per 100,000) and property (1,213 per 100,000) offenses in the country. ...
3. Idaho. ...
4. Rhode Island. ...
5. Connecticut. ...
6. New Jersey. ...
7. Kentucky. ...
8. Massachusetts.

Where are people moving to in 2026?

In 2026, people are continuing to move towards the Sun Belt (South & Southwest U.S.) for warmer climates, lower costs, and job growth, with states like Florida, Texas, North Carolina, and South Carolina leading, alongside international destinations like Canada, Germany, and Australia for economic opportunity, while some are leaving colder regions like West Virginia for better prospects.