Here's How Short Minimum Wage Leaves You in Every State
You can’t live off minimum wage alone anywhere in the United States, but there are four Midwestern states where these earnings stretch to cover 70% or more of your cost-of-living expenses.
MoneyLion recently analyzed each state’s minimum wage to determine how far these estimated earnings go in every state. The minimum wage in every state was found through the Department of Labor. Each state’s estimated annual income was calculated for its minimum wage using Namely.com’s Payroll Hourly to Salary Calculator and assuming employees work 40 hours per week and 52 weeks per year.
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MoneyLion subtracted the average cost of necessities from the estimated annual minimum wage to determine the deficit for covering expenses in each state.
Key Findings
There are four Midwestern states where minimum wage covers 70% or more of expenses: Michigan (72%), Illinois (74%), Nebraska (77%) and Missouri (80%).
Hawaii has the highest deficit at $56,826. Minimum wage covers just 37% of the cost of living in The Aloha State.
Only two states have deficits under $10,000. This amount is $9,501 in Nebraska and $7,924 in Missouri.
The most you can earn from a minimum wage income is about $35,000. The four states with the highest minimum wage incomes are California ($35,152), Connecticut ($35,235), New York ($35,360) and Washington ($35,630).
20 states use the federal minimum wage of $7.25. This breaks down to an annual income of $15,080.
This is how far a minimum wage income can stretch to cover every state’s cost of living, ranked in order of states receiving the least to most coverage.
1. New Hampshire
State minimum wage: $7.25
Annual income off minimum wage: $15,080
Annual cost of necessities: $58,505
% of CoL covered by minimum wage income: 26%
Deficit for covering expenses: -$43,425
2. Utah
State minimum wage: $7.25
Annual income off minimum wage: $15,080
Annual cost of necessities: $57,736
% of CoL covered by minimum wage income: 26%
Deficit for covering expenses: -$42,656
3. Idaho
State minimum wage: $7.25
Annual income off minimum wage: $15,080
Annual cost of necessities: $54,363
% of CoL covered by minimum wage income: 28%
Deficit for covering expenses: -$39,283
4. Wyoming
State minimum wage: $7.25
Annual income off minimum wage: $15,080
Annual cost of necessities: $46,480
% of CoL covered by minimum wage income: 32%
Deficit for covering expenses: -$31,400
5. North Carolina
State minimum wage: $7.25
Annual income off minimum wage: $15,080
Annual cost of necessities: $45,516
% of CoL covered by minimum wage income: 33%
Deficit for covering expenses: -$30,436
6. Wisconsin
State minimum wage: $7.25
Annual income off minimum wage: $15,080
Annual cost of necessities: $45,044
% of CoL covered by minimum wage income: 33%
Deficit for covering expenses: -$29,964
7. Georgia
State minimum wage: $7.25
Annual income off minimum wage: $15,080
Annual cost of necessities: $44,915
% of CoL covered by minimum wage income: 34%
Deficit for covering expenses: -$29,835
8. Tennessee
State minimum wage: $7.25
Annual income off minimum wage: $15,080
Annual cost of necessities: $43,189
% of CoL covered by minimum wage income: 35%
Deficit for covering expenses: -$28,109
9. South Carolina
State minimum wage: $7.25
Annual income off minimum wage: $15,080
Annual cost of necessities: $42,753
% of CoL covered by minimum wage income: 35%
Deficit for covering expenses: -$27,673
10. Texas
State minimum wage: $7.25
Annual income off minimum wage: $15,080
Annual cost of necessities: $42,636
% of CoL covered by minimum wage income: 35%
Deficit for covering expenses: -$27,556
11. Pennsylvania
State minimum wage: $7.25
Annual income off minimum wage: $15,080
Annual cost of necessities: $42,280
% of CoL covered by minimum wage income: 36%
Deficit for covering expenses: -$27,200
12. North Dakota
State minimum wage: $7.25
Annual income off minimum wage: $15,080
Annual cost of necessities: $41,761
% of CoL covered by minimum wage income: 36%
Deficit for covering expenses: -$26,681
13. Hawaii
State minimum wage: $16
Annual income off minimum wage: $33,280
Annual cost of necessities: $90,106
% of CoL covered by minimum wage income: 37%
Deficit for covering expenses: -$56,826
14. Indiana
State minimum wage: $7.25
Annual income off minimum wage: $15,080
Annual cost of necessities: $39,515
% of CoL covered by minimum wage income: 38%
Deficit for covering expenses: -$24,435
15. Kansas
State minimum wage: $7.25
Annual income off minimum wage: $15,080
Annual cost of necessities: $38,913
% of CoL covered by minimum wage income: 39%
Deficit for covering expenses: -$23,833
16. Alabama
State minimum wage: $7.25
Annual income off minimum wage: $15,080
Annual cost of necessities: $37,763
% of CoL covered by minimum wage income: 40%
Deficit for covering expenses: -$22,683
17. Iowa
State minimum wage: $7.25
Annual income off minimum wage: $15,080
Annual cost of necessities: $37,457
% of CoL covered by minimum wage income: 40%
Deficit for covering expenses: -$22,377
18. Kentucky
State minimum wage: $7.25
Annual income off minimum wage: $15,080
Annual cost of necessities: $37,432
% of CoL covered by minimum wage income: 40%
Deficit for covering expenses: -$22,352
19. Oklahoma
State minimum wage: $7.25
Annual income off minimum wage: $15,080
Annual cost of necessities: $36,298
% of CoL covered by minimum wage income: 42%
Deficit for covering expenses: -$21,218
20. Montana
State minimum wage: $10.85
Annual income off minimum wage: $22,568
Annual cost of necessities: $53,953
% of CoL covered by minimum wage income: 42%
Deficit for covering expenses: -$31,385
21. Louisiana
State minimum wage: $7.25
Annual income off minimum wage: $15,080
Annual cost of necessities: $35,938
% of CoL covered by minimum wage income: 42%
Deficit for covering expenses: -$20,858
22. Massachusetts
State minimum wage: $15
Annual income off minimum wage: $31,200
Annual cost of necessities: $72,438
% of CoL covered by minimum wage income: 43%
Deficit for covering expenses: -$41,238
23. Mississippi
State minimum wage: $7.25
Annual income off minimum wage: $15,080
Annual cost of necessities: $34,501
% of CoL covered by minimum wage income: 44%
Deficit for covering expenses: -$19,421
24. California
State minimum wage: $16.90
Annual income off minimum wage: $35,152
Annual cost of necessities: $80,053
% of CoL covered by minimum wage income: 44%
Deficit for covering expenses: -$44,901
25. Nevada
State minimum wage: $12
Annual income off minimum wage: $24,960
Annual cost of necessities: $52,712
% of CoL covered by minimum wage income: 47%
Deficit for covering expenses: -$27,752
26. Alaska
State minimum wage: $13
Annual income off minimum wage: $27,040
Annual cost of necessities: $56,010
% of CoL covered by minimum wage income: 48%
Deficit for covering expenses: -$28,970
27. Minnesota
State minimum wage: $11.41
Annual income off minimum wage: $23,733
Annual cost of necessities: $46,145
% of CoL covered by minimum wage income: 51%
Deficit for covering expenses: -$22,413
28. Virginia
State minimum wage: $12.77
Annual income off minimum wage: $26,562
Annual cost of necessities: $50,727
% of CoL covered by minimum wage income: 52%
Deficit for covering expenses: -$24,165
29. Colorado
State minimum wage: $15.15
Annual income off minimum wage: $31,512
Annual cost of necessities: $59,384
% of CoL covered by minimum wage income: 53%
Deficit for covering expenses: -$27,872
30. New Jersey
State minimum wage: $15.92
Annual income off minimum wage: $33,114
Annual cost of necessities: $62,073
% of CoL covered by minimum wage income: 53%
Deficit for covering expenses: -$28,960
31. West Virginia
State minimum wage: $8.75
Annual income off minimum wage: $18,200
Annual cost of necessities: $33,782
% of CoL covered by minimum wage income: 54%
Deficit for covering expenses: -$15,582
32. Washington
State minimum wage: $17.13
Annual income off minimum wage: $35,630
Annual cost of necessities: $65,867
% of CoL covered by minimum wage income: 54%
Deficit for covering expenses: -$30,236
33. South Dakota
State minimum wage: $11.85
Annual income off minimum wage: $24,648
Annual cost of necessities: $44,364
% of CoL covered by minimum wage income: 56%
Deficit for covering expenses: -$19,716
34. New Mexico
State minimum wage: $12
Annual income off minimum wage: $24,960
Annual cost of necessities: $43,614
% of CoL covered by minimum wage income: 57%
Deficit for covering expenses: -$18,654
35. Rhode Island
State minimum wage: $16
Annual income off minimum wage: $33,280
Annual cost of necessities: $57,989
% of CoL covered by minimum wage income: 57%
Deficit for covering expenses: -$24,709
36. Oregon
State minimum wage: $16.30
Annual income off minimum wage: $33,904
Annual cost of necessities: $58,881
% of CoL covered by minimum wage income: 58%
Deficit for covering expenses: -$24,977
37. Vermont
State minimum wage: $14.42
Annual income off minimum wage: $29,994
Annual cost of necessities: $51,460
% of CoL covered by minimum wage income: 58%
Deficit for covering expenses: -$21,467
38. Ohio
State minimum wage: $11
Annual income off minimum wage: $22,880
Annual cost of necessities: $39,242
% of CoL covered by minimum wage income: 58%
Deficit for covering expenses: -$16,362
39. Maryland
State minimum wage: $15
Annual income off minimum wage: $31,200
Annual cost of necessities: $53,433
% of CoL covered by minimum wage income: 58%
Deficit for covering expenses: -$22,233
40. Maine
State minimum wage: $15.10
Annual income off minimum wage: $31,408
Annual cost of necessities: $52,708
% of CoL covered by minimum wage income: 60%
Deficit for covering expenses: -$21,300
41. New York
State minimum wage: $17
Annual income off minimum wage: $35,360
Annual cost of necessities: $58,545
% of CoL covered by minimum wage income: 60%
Deficit for covering expenses: -$23,185
42. Florida
State minimum wage: $14
Annual income off minimum wage: $29,120
Annual cost of necessities: $48,061
% of CoL covered by minimum wage income: 61%
Deficit for covering expenses: -$18,941
43. Arizona
State minimum wage: $15.15
Annual income off minimum wage: $31,512
Annual cost of necessities: $51,642
% of CoL covered by minimum wage income: 61%
Deficit for covering expenses: -$20,130
44. Delaware
State minimum wage: $15
Annual income off minimum wage: $31,200
Annual cost of necessities: $50,502
% of CoL covered by minimum wage income: 62%
Deficit for covering expenses: -$19,302
45. Arkansas
State minimum wage: $11
Annual income off minimum wage: $22,880
Annual cost of necessities: $36,057
% of CoL covered by minimum wage income: 63%
Deficit for covering expenses: -$13,177
46. Connecticut
State minimum wage: $16.94
Annual income off minimum wage: $35,235
Annual cost of necessities: $55,143
% of CoL covered by minimum wage income: 64%
Deficit for covering expenses: -$19,908
47. Michigan
State minimum wage: $13.73
Annual income off minimum wage: $28,558
Annual cost of necessities: $39,757
% of CoL covered by minimum wage income: 72%
Deficit for covering expenses: -$11,199
48. Illinois
State minimum wage: $15
Annual income off minimum wage: $31,200
Annual cost of necessities: $42,263
% of CoL covered by minimum wage income: 74%
Deficit for covering expenses: -$11,063
49. Nebraska
State minimum wage: $15
Annual income off minimum wage: $31,200
Annual cost of necessities: $40,701
% of CoL covered by minimum wage income: 77%
Deficit for covering expenses: -$9,501
50. Missouri
State minimum wage: $15
Annual income off minimum wage: $31,200
Annual cost of necessities: $39,124
% of CoL covered by minimum wage income: 80%
Deficit for covering expenses: -$7,924
Methodology: For this study, MoneyLion analyzed the minimum wage in each state to find out how far the estimated minimum wage would cover in each state. For each state, The minimum wage for each state was found through the Department of Labor. Assuming 40 hours per week and 52 weeks per year and using Namely.com's Payroll Hourly to Salary Calculator, the estimated annual income for each state was calculated for the state's minimum wage. The cost-of-living indexes for each state were sourced from Missouri Economic and Research Information Center and the national average expenditure costs for all households were sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Expenditure Survey. Housing information was added to the cost of living using Zillow Home Value Index and the Federal Reserve Economic Data (10% down on a 30-year mortgage). Using the total cost of necessities and the average annual minimum wage, the cost or the surplus remaining was calculated for each state. The percentage covered by the estimated annual minimum wage was calculated and the states were sorted to show the least to most covered by the estimated annual minimum wage. All data is up to date as of April 28, 2026.
This article was provided by MoneyLion.com for informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, legal or tax advice.
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