The Living Wage Required for a 4-Person Family in All 50 States
It’s not cheap to raise a family of four in America, especially if you reside in a state with a high cost of living. Maintaining a living wage in states like Massachusetts and Hawaii means families of four must earn more than $54 to $69 hourly, according to a new original research study from MoneyLion.
MoneyLion used the latest available data from the 2024 Consumer Expenditure Survey to determine the annual living expenses for a family of four people in all 50 states. A family of four is defined as a married couple with children, the oldest child age 6 to 17.
Itemized costs of living include housing, groceries, utilities, healthcare and transportation, collectively termed “necessities.”
The annual cost of each necessity was calculated and summed up to find the total annual expenditure on necessities. The living wage is defined as the absolute minimum hourly wage needed to achieve a living wage and MoneyLion found the absolute hourly minimum for each state.
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Key Findings
Mississippi and Oklahoma boast the lowest hourly living wages. A family of four needs to earn a minimum of $25.35 (Mississippi) or $25.65 (Oklahoma) hourly to maintain a living wage.
A family of four must make $45 or more hourly to get by in three states. The minimum hourly living wage is $46.22 in California, $54.25 in Massachusetts and an eye-popping $69.43 in Hawaii.
There are 13 Southern states where families can earn $30 or less hourly and maintain a living wage. From lowest to highest hourly wages needed, these states include Mississippi ($25.35), Oklahoma ($25.65), Tennessee ($26.11), West Virginia ($26.35), Alabama ($26.39), Arkansas ($26.45), Texas ($26.65), Kentucky ($27.27), Louisiana ($27.77), Georgia ($27.96), South Carolina ($28.24), Florida ($29.70) and North Carolina ($29.91).
Here’s the living wage a family of four needs in every state.
1. Mississippi
Minimum hourly living wage: $25.35
Required annual income (after taxes): $45,424
Annual grocery costs: $9,036
Annual housing costs: $14,788
Annual healthcare costs: $7,541
2. Oklahoma
Minimum hourly living wage: $25.65
Required annual income (after taxes): $45,620
Annual grocery costs: $9,074
Annual housing costs: $14,304
Annual healthcare costs: $7,501
3. Tennessee
Minimum hourly living wage: $26.11
Required annual income (after taxes): $47,879
Annual grocery costs: $9,275
Annual housing costs: $17,485
Annual healthcare costs: $7,066
4. Missouri
Minimum hourly living wage: $26.31
Required annual income (after taxes): $47,405
Annual grocery costs: $9,122
Annual housing costs: $16,389
Annual healthcare costs: $7,783
5. West Virginia
Minimum hourly living wage: $26.35
Required annual income (after taxes): $46,600
Annual grocery costs: $9,208
Annual housing costs: $14,915
Annual healthcare costs: $7,340
6. Alabama
Minimum hourly living wage: $26.39
Required annual income (after taxes): $46,204
Annual grocery costs: $9,362
Annual housing costs: $14,978
Annual healthcare costs: $7,139
7. Arkansas
Minimum hourly living wage: $26.45
Required annual income (after taxes): $46,816
Annual grocery costs: $8,844
Annual housing costs: $16,410
Annual healthcare costs: $6,913
8. North Dakota
Minimum hourly living wage: $26.57
Required annual income (after taxes): $48,661
Annual grocery costs: $9,036
Annual housing costs: $16,115
Annual healthcare costs: $8,798
9. Texas
Minimum hourly living wage: $26.65
Required annual income (after taxes): $48,804
Annual grocery costs: $9,065
Annual housing costs: $16,579
Annual healthcare costs: $7,743
10. Kansas
Minimum hourly living wage: $26.79
Required annual income (after taxes): $48,123
Annual grocery costs: $9,151
Annual housing costs: $16,326
Annual healthcare costs: $7,509
11. Iowa
Minimum hourly living wage: $27.16
Required annual income (after taxes): $48,801
Annual grocery costs: $9,381
Annual housing costs: $16,263
Annual healthcare costs: $7,791
12. Kentucky
Minimum hourly living wage: $27.27
Required annual income (after taxes): $47,817
Annual grocery costs: $9,553
Annual housing costs: $15,800
Annual healthcare costs: $7,485
13. Nebraska
Minimum hourly living wage: $27.38
Required annual income (after taxes): $48,711
Annual grocery costs: $9,410
Annual housing costs: $16,642
Annual healthcare costs: $8,130
14. New Mexico
Minimum hourly living wage: $27.61
Required annual income (after taxes): $49,704
Annual grocery costs: $9,237
Annual housing costs: $18,033
Annual healthcare costs: $8,170
15. Louisiana
Minimum hourly living wage: $27.77
Required annual income (after taxes): $49,039
Annual grocery costs: $9,189
Annual housing costs: $17,717
Annual healthcare costs: $7,437
16. South Dakota
Minimum hourly living wage: $27.82
Required annual income (after taxes): $50,750
Annual grocery costs: $9,314
Annual housing costs: $17,885
Annual healthcare costs: $8,871
17. Georgia
Minimum hourly living wage: $27.96
Required annual income (after taxes): $49,218
Annual grocery costs: $9,371
Annual housing costs: $16,600
Annual healthcare costs: $7,831
18. South Carolina
Minimum hourly living wage: $28.24
Required annual income (after taxes): $49,246
Annual grocery costs: $9,582
Annual housing costs: $16,811
Annual healthcare costs: $7,509
19. Wyoming
Minimum hourly living wage: $28.30
Required annual income (after taxes): $51,553
Annual grocery costs: $9,563
Annual housing costs: $18,370
Annual healthcare costs: $8,162
20. Minnesota
Minimum hourly living wage: $28.58
Required annual income (after taxes): $50,439
Annual grocery costs: $9,630
Annual housing costs: $16,979
Annual healthcare costs: $8,371
21. Indiana
Minimum hourly living wage: $28.58
Required annual income (after taxes): $49,374
Annual grocery costs: $9,553
Annual housing costs: $16,052
Annual healthcare costs: $8,113
22. Ohio
Minimum hourly living wage: $28.74
Required annual income (after taxes): $49,931
Annual grocery costs: $9,457
Annual housing costs: $17,780
Annual healthcare costs: $7,308
23. Michigan
Minimum hourly living wage: $29.66
Required annual income (after taxes): $51,098
Annual grocery costs: $9,496
Annual housing costs: $17,990
Annual healthcare costs: $7,872
24. Florida
Minimum hourly living wage: $29.70
Required annual income (after taxes): $53,901
Annual grocery costs: $10,128
Annual housing costs: $20,876
Annual healthcare costs: $7,574
25. North Carolina
Minimum hourly living wage: $29.91
Required annual income (after taxes): $52,682
Annual grocery costs: $9,611
Annual housing costs: $19,423
Annual healthcare costs: $8,629
26. Pennsylvania
Minimum hourly living wage: $30.42
Required annual income (after taxes): $52,520
Annual grocery costs: $9,582
Annual housing costs: $18,327
Annual healthcare costs: $7,606
27. Illinois
Minimum hourly living wage: $30.43
Required annual income (after taxes): $52,192
Annual grocery costs: $9,668
Annual housing costs: $17,885
Annual healthcare costs: $8,218
28. Wisconsin
Minimum hourly living wage: $30.60
Required annual income (after taxes): $53,544
Annual grocery costs: $9,592
Annual housing costs: $20,603
Annual healthcare costs: $8,242
29. Idaho
Minimum hourly living wage: $30.88
Required annual income (after taxes): $54,396
Annual grocery costs: $9,285
Annual housing costs: $21,551
Annual healthcare costs: $8,460
30. Utah
Minimum hourly living wage: $30.95
Required annual income (after taxes): $54,483
Annual grocery costs: $9,170
Annual housing costs: $22,667
Annual healthcare costs: $7,227
31. Nevada
Minimum hourly living wage: $31.17
Required annual income (after taxes): $56,359
Annual grocery costs: $9,754
Annual housing costs: $22,751
Annual healthcare costs: $7,211
32. Virginia
Minimum hourly living wage: $31.74
Required annual income (after taxes): $54,870
Annual grocery costs: $9,639
Annual housing costs: $21,003
Annual healthcare costs: $8,371
33. Colorado
Minimum hourly living wage: $32.34
Required annual income (after taxes): $55,728
Annual grocery costs: $9,668
Annual housing costs: $22,498
Annual healthcare costs: $8,492
34. Delaware
Minimum hourly living wage: $32.54
Required annual income (after taxes): $55,632
Annual grocery costs: $9,946
Annual housing costs: $21,508
Annual healthcare costs: $8,323
35. New Hampshire
Minimum hourly living wage: $32.95
Required annual income (after taxes): $59,323
Annual grocery costs: $9,563
Annual housing costs: $23,994
Annual healthcare costs: $8,548
36. Arizona
Minimum hourly living wage: $33.75
Required annual income (after taxes): $59,687
Annual grocery costs: $9,620
Annual housing costs: $26,396
Annual healthcare costs: $7,541
37. Montana
Minimum hourly living wage: $35.28
Required annual income (after taxes): $60,154
Annual grocery costs: $9,601
Annual housing costs: $25,974
Annual healthcare costs: $8,976
38. Rhode Island
Minimum hourly living wage: $35.38
Required annual income (after taxes): $61,832
Annual grocery costs: $10,119
Annual housing costs: $25,363
Annual healthcare costs: $8,339
39. Washington
Minimum hourly living wage: $36.16
Required annual income (after taxes): $63,684
Annual grocery costs: $10,205
Annual housing costs: $25,300
Annual healthcare costs: $9,193
40. Vermont
Minimum hourly living wage: $36.41
Required annual income (after taxes): $63,798
Annual grocery costs: $10,310
Annual housing costs: $27,112
Annual healthcare costs: $9,104
41. Connecticut
Minimum hourly living wage: $37.24
Required annual income (after taxes): $63,506
Annual grocery costs: $10,253
Annual housing costs: $26,143
Annual healthcare costs: $9,137
42. New Jersey
Minimum hourly living wage: $37.31
Required annual income (after taxes): $65,121
Annual grocery costs: $10,004
Annual housing costs: $29,408
Annual healthcare costs: $9,161
43. Maine
Minimum hourly living wage: $38.21
Required annual income (after taxes): $65,926
Annual grocery costs: $9,812
Annual housing costs: $29,408
Annual healthcare costs: $9,257
44. Oregon
Minimum hourly living wage: $39.33
Required annual income (after taxes): $63,799
Annual grocery costs: $10,224
Annual housing costs: $25,785
Annual healthcare costs: $9,386
45. Alaska
Minimum hourly living wage: $40.19
Required annual income (after taxes): $71,425
Annual grocery costs: $11,920
Annual housing costs: $26,564
Annual healthcare costs: $11,489
46. Maryland
Minimum hourly living wage: $41
Required annual income (after taxes): $66,912
Annual grocery costs: $10,253
Annual housing costs: $31,072
Annual healthcare costs: $8,718
47. New York
Minimum hourly living wage: $43.63
Required annual income (after taxes): $73,515
Annual grocery costs: $9,917
Annual housing costs: $37,624
Annual healthcare costs: $9,096
48. California
Minimum hourly living wage: $46.22
Required annual income (after taxes): $79,367
Annual grocery costs: $10,301
Annual housing costs: $38,298
Annual healthcare costs: $8,387
49. Massachusetts
Minimum hourly living wage: $54.25
Required annual income (after taxes): $89,725
Annual grocery costs: $9,812
Annual housing costs: $49,063
Annual healthcare costs: $10,788
50. Hawaii
Minimum hourly living wage: $69.43
Required annual income (after taxes): $110,782
Annual grocery costs: $12,505
Annual housing costs: $62,903
Annual healthcare costs: $10,321
Methodology: MoneyLion surveyed annual living expenses for a family of four people in all 50 states, using the 2024 Consumer Expenditure Survey (latest available) data for a family of four (a married couple with children (oldest child aged 6-17) from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The itemized costs of living were housing, groceries, utilities, healthcare and transportation, collectively termed “necessities.” Based on each state’s cost-of-living index for each category, sourced from the Missouri Economic Research and Information Center’s 2025 Q3 Cost of Living Data Series, the study calculated the annual cost of each necessity and summed them up to find total annual expenditure on necessities. With these figures found, MoneyLion found the absolute minimum of what could be considered a living wage. This living wage is defined as the absolute minimum hourly wage needed to achieve living wage, assuming one works five days a week, eight hour days for 2,080 hours a year. All data is current as of Jan. 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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