Minimum Wage by State in 2025: Complete Map, Rates, and How They Compare
Compare 2025 state and D.C. minimum wages to the federal $7.25 floor—Top 10 rates, states at federal, purchasing-power context, and the US5 minimum wage tool.
Minimum Wage by State in 2025: Complete Map, Rates, and How They Compare
Quick Answer: The federal minimum wage is still $7.25/hour, but many states and D.C. set higher floors. On US5’s current table, leaders include D.C. ($17.50), Washington ($16.66), and California ($16.50). About 20 states still sit at the federal $7.25 rate. Always confirm effective dates—several jurisdictions index wages annually.
Try it now: Minimum Wage by State · Take-home pay calculator · Cost of living hubs
Whether you’re budgeting a first job, checking compliance, or comparing relocation options, the state floor is the starting line—not the whole compensation story.
Federal Floor vs State Law
| Layer | What it means |
|---|---|
| Federal | Nationwide floor of $7.25/hr for many covered non-exempt workers (with limited exceptions) |
| State | Many states set a higher statutory minimum; employers generally must pay the higher of federal or state |
| City / local | Some metros set still-higher ordinances (Seattle, NYC, San Francisco, and others) |
US5’s /money/minimum-wage page focuses on state + D.C. rows. City ordinances can exceed the statewide number.
Top 10 Highest State (and D.C.) Rates
From US5’s loaded statewide rates (verify live on the tool—schedules change):
| Rank | Jurisdiction | Hourly rate | Explore |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | $17.50 | DC salary · DC cost |
| 2 | Washington | $16.66 | WA salary · WA cost |
| 3 | California | $16.50 | CA salary · CA cost |
| 4 | Connecticut | $16.35 | CT salary · CT cost |
| 5 | New York | $15.50 | NY salary · NY cost |
| 6 | New Jersey | $15.49 | NJ salary · NJ cost |
| 7 | Rhode Island | $15.00 | RI salary |
| 8 | Maryland | $15.00 | MD salary |
| 9 | Massachusetts | $15.00 | MA salary |
| 10 | Illinois | $15.00 | IL salary |
Also near this tier: Delaware ($15.00), Colorado ($14.81), Oregon ($14.70), Arizona ($14.70), Maine ($14.65). See the full sortable list on Minimum wage by state.
States at the Federal $7.25
These states currently track the federal $7.25 statewide rate in US5’s table (local city rules can still differ):
Alabama · Georgia · Idaho · Indiana · Iowa · Kansas · Kentucky · Louisiana · Mississippi · North Carolina · North Dakota · New Hampshire · Oklahoma · Pennsylvania · South Carolina · Tennessee · Texas · Utah · Wisconsin · Wyoming
Examples to explore:
- Texas salaries · Texas cost
- Georgia salaries · North Carolina · Pennsylvania
- Indiana · Iowa · Mississippi
Use /money/minimum-wage as the live source of truth, then jump to each state salary hub for career wages above the floor.
City-Level Minimums (Examples)
These often exceed the statewide rate. Treat them as reminders to check local law:
| Metro | Why it matters | Nearby US5 hubs |
|---|---|---|
| Seattle area | Historically high local floors | Washington salary · WA cost |
| New York City | City/state schedules can stack | New York salary · NY cost |
| San Francisco / Bay Area | Local ordinances + high RPP | California salary · CA cost |
| Denver / Chicago | Separate city rules | Colorado · Illinois |
Can You Live on the Minimum? Pair With RPP and Take-Home
Hourly floors ignore price levels. A higher minimum in a high-RPP state may still stretch thinner than a mid minimum in a low-RPP state.
Full-time annualized gross (× 2,080 hours):
| Rate | Rough annual gross | Where it shows up |
|---|---|---|
| $7.25 | ~$15,080 | Many $7.25 states above |
| $15.00 | ~$31,200 | Several Northeast / Midwest floors |
| $16.50 | ~$34,320 | California statewide |
| $17.50 | ~$36,400 | D.C. |
Then:
- Open /money/minimum-wage for the live rate.
- Check that state’s cost hub for RPP (Arkansas ~86.9 vs California ~110.7).
- Model the annualized gross in take-home pay.
- Read Cost of Living by State for purchasing-power framing.
| State | Min-wage context | Cost | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | High state floor ($16.50) | CA cost | CA salary |
| Washington | High state floor ($16.66) | WA cost | WA salary |
| Texas | Federal $7.25 statewide | TX cost | TX salary |
| Ohio | Check live table | OH cost | OH salary |
| Mississippi | Low RPP region | MS cost | MS salary |
| Arkansas | Low RPP region | AR cost | AR salary |
For career wages far above the floor, see highest-paying jobs by state.
FAQ
Does every employer in a $7.25 state pay only $7.25?
No. Many employers pay more, and some cities set higher local minimums. The statewide statutory floor is the legal baseline for covered work—not the typical wage for every job.
Is tipped minimum wage included here?
US5’s state table focuses on the primary statewide adult minimum. Tipped, youth, and industry rates can differ—confirm with your state labor department.
How is this different from OEWS salary pages?
Minimum wage is a legal hourly floor. Salary pages show OEWS median annual wages for occupations—usually much higher than the minimum for professional roles.
Related Reading
Next Steps
→ Minimum Wage by State on US5
Minimum-wage laws change with legislation and scheduled indexing. US5 aggregates state-level reference data for education. Confirm with the U.S. Department of Labor, your state labor department, and local ordinances before making employment or compliance decisions.