The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) supports the wage earners, job seekers, and retirees of the United States. The department's mission is to:
DOL administers and enforces more than 180 federal laws. These mandates and the regulations that implement them cover many workplace activities for about 165 million workers and 11 million workplaces.
The federal minimum wage for covered nonexempt employees is $7.25 per hour.
Many states also have minimum wage laws. In cases where an employee is subject to both the state and federal minimum wage laws, the employee is entitled to the higher of the two minimum wages.
Is the minimum wage sufficient to live on?
Try the Living Wage Calculator from MIT. Explore the living wage in your county, metro area, or state for 12 different family types below. The data was last updated on February 14, 2024.
What is a living wage?
A living wage is what one full-time worker must earn on an hourly basis to help cover the cost of their family’s minimum basic needs where they live while still being self-sufficient.
What typical expenses are included in the Living Wage Calculator’s estimates?
The Living Wage Calculator’s estimate of living wage includes eight typical expenses or basic needs – childcare, civic engagement, food, health care, housing, internet and mobile, transportation, and other necessities. In addition to these basic needs, the Calculator also accounts for the additional cost to families associated with income and payroll taxes.