U.S. Workers Earning Under $17/Hour by State

What We’re Showing

This graphic shows the share of U.S. workers earning under $17 an hour by state. Figures are as of January 2024 and data is from the Economic Policy Institute.

Key Takeaways

• The South is home to the top three states with the highest share of workers earning under $17 an hour: Mississippi (41%), Louisiana (37%), and Oklahoma (36%)
• By contrast, Washington has the lowest share, at 12% of the workforce, owing in part to its high minimum wage, which increased to $16.28 this year
• Since 2009, the federal minimum wage has remained unchanged at $7.25, but the Raise the Wage Act of 2023 is proposing to gradually lift it to $17 an hour by 2028
• Despite a lack of progress on increasing the federal minimum wage, the share of workers earning under $17 an hour across the country has declined from over 30% in 2014 to 21% in 2024, adjusted for inflation