1. New Hampshire
If you’re working full time at the state’s effective minimum (the federal $7.25/hr applies), you’d bring home about $1,256 a month — and the statewide average rent sits around $2,112 a month, so rent eats way more than your paycheck. This isn’t a “close call” situation; it’s the kind of gap that forces people to double up, commute far from work, or live paycheck-to-paycheck. New Hampshire’s rent pressures in metro pockets push the average up while the wage floor hasn’t budged.
If you lived in a smaller New Hampshire town you might find slightly cheaper units, but the statewide average still demonstrates the math: minimum-wage earnings don’t cover a typical apartment. That mismatch explains why housing assistance and roommate culture are common. It’s also a reason some employers advertise “living wage” rates even if the law doesn’t require them. The takeaway is blunt — at minimum wage, finding independent housing in New Hampshire is exceptionally tight.
2. Pennsylvania
A full-time minimum-wage worker in Pennsylvania would make only about $1,257 a month while the state’s average rent is roughly $1,730 a month, so rent outpaces earnings by a comfortable margin. That difference isn’t theoretical — it shows up in eviction risk, longer commutes to cheaper towns, and families sharing small spaces. Even if you trim expenses, the 30%-of-income affordability rule is impossible to hit on minimum pay.
Local markets matter — Pittsburgh and Philadelphia pull the statewide average up — but even outside big metros many towns have rents above what a min-wage paycheck can sustainably cover. That’s why housing advocates frequently point to state-level wage policy as a lever. Employers in tight labor markets sometimes pay above minimum just to attract workers. Still, the official floor leaves many renters exposed.
3. Georgia
In Georgia, working 40 hours at the prevailing minimum results in about $1,257 per month while the reported average rent is about $1,608 a month, so rent overtakes monthly earnings. That dynamic helps explain why Atlanta-area housing stress makes headlines, and why even non-metro rents can be unaffordable for low-wage workers. The state’s statutory minimum is historically low, and federal law often becomes the de facto floor.
Put simply: if you’re trying to cover a one-bedroom on minimum pay, you’re already behind before utilities are counted. That’s a main reason for high rates of commuting from cheaper exurbs and for mixed households. It also fuels pressure on cities to consider local wage ordinances or other supports. For someone budgeting, housing becomes the first—and often largest—tradeoff.
4. Idaho
Full-time at the minimum in Idaho nets about $1,257 per month while the state average rent is roughly $1,607, so housing costs outstrip baseline earnings. Idaho’s rental market has tightened considerably over recent years, and wages at the floor simply haven’t kept pace. That pushes workers into shared housing or long drives to jobs in cheaper counties.
Even for people in rural Idaho, the gap matters because wages in many service-sector jobs adhere to the minimum. Employers in high-turnover industries sometimes raise wages, but that’s not universal. When the math doesn’t work for rent, families rely on other income sources or assistance. The mismatch between rent and minimum pay is a core part of the affordability story in Idaho.
5. Utah
A minimum-wage full-time paycheck in Utah comes to about $1,257 monthly while the average rent is around $1,597, meaning rent tops what you earn. Rapid population and job growth in Utah’s urban centers pushed rents up faster than wage floors. The result: even steady, full-time work at the statutory minimum doesn’t buy independent housing in many parts of the state.
This is particularly visible in places like Salt Lake City and booming suburbs where demand is hot. Workers in hospitality, retail, and entry-level trades often find themselves priced out of nearby apartments. Many households are choosing longer commutes or shared units to make ends meet. Ultimately, Utah’s growth story has a sharp affordability edge for minimum-wage earners.
6. South Carolina
Working full time at the effective minimum in South Carolina produces roughly $1,257 a month while the state’s average rent is about $1,594 a month, so rent exceeds take-home pay. That gap strains single-earner households the most and pushes others into multi-earner or multi-occupant arrangements. Low statutory wages combined with hotter coastal and university markets make affordability uneven.
Outside Charleston and other hot spots you’ll find cheaper units, but the statewide average illustrates the general squeeze for minimum earners. The mismatch helps explain why local campaigns for living wages crop up near big employers and tourist centers. It’s also why some workers rely on overtime, second jobs, or subsidized housing. The arithmetic is simple: rent first, everything else after.
7. Wisconsin
A full-time min-wage worker in Wisconsin takes home around $1,257 per month while the state’s average rent is listed near $1,548 a month, so rent outstrips monthly earnings. That leaves little room after rent for transportation, food, and healthcare. In places with university-driven demand or growing tech presence, the pressure is even stronger.
Employers in competitive local markets sometimes pay more than the minimum, but that’s patchy and not guaranteed. As a result, the most vulnerable renters end up in lower-quality stock or shared households. For anyone doing the budgeting, minimum pay doesn’t provide a comfortable margin. This makes housing assistance and community-level interventions critical in affected areas.
8. North Carolina
At the prevailing minimum wage a full-time worker in North Carolina makes about $1,257 monthly while the average rent clocks around $1,524 a month, so rent is higher than earnings. North Carolina’s growing metro areas have lifted statewide averages and sharpened the affordability challenge for low-wage workers. Even outside booming cities, many entry-level jobs stay tied to the wage floor.
When employers can’t or won’t raise starting pay, workers face tough choices: long commutes, extra shifts, or shared housing. That dynamic also affects turnover and staffing in hospitality and retail. It’s a straightforward cost-of-living mismatch that shows up in local policy debates. For many residents, housing is the largest—and least flexible—expense.
9. Hawaii
This one hurts: Hawaii’s minimum (about $14.00/hr in the cited period) still produces roughly $2,427 a month for a full-time worker, but the state’s average rent is roughly $2,668 a month, so even a relatively high minimum doesn’t fully cover housing. That illustrates how extreme housing markets can outpace wage gains, even where the wage floor is comparatively generous. In places like Oʻahu the tourist economy and limited land supply make rents persistently high.
So while a Hawaii minimum earner does much better than someone on the federal floor, the rental baseline remains punishing. Many workers rely on multi-generational living or employer housing subsidies where available. The state’s housing context is an important reminder that raising the minimum is necessary but sometimes not sufficient alone. Local housing supply and policy also matter dramatically.
10. Tennessee
A full-time worker at Tennessee’s effective minimum brings in about $1,257 per month while the state average rent is about $1,494 a month, which leaves rent higher than earnings. Tennessee’s rapid suburban and exurban growth around Nashville and other metros has nudged averages upward. That means minimum-wage jobs in service and retail sectors often don’t stretch to independent housing.
People coping with this gap commonly piece together income from multiple jobs or accept long commutes from cheaper counties. Some local employers offer hiring bonuses or slightly higher starting wages to compete, but it’s not universal. For entry-level workers, the math is tight. The result is predictable pressure on family budgets and local housing programs.
11. Massachusetts
Even though Massachusetts’ minimum is relatively high (about $15.00/hr in the cited period), a full-time minimum-wage paycheck is roughly $2,600 per month and the state average rent is about $2,837, meaning rent still outpaces earnings. That fact highlights how expensive coastal and metro markets can leave low-wage workers exposed despite better wages. Boston and other high-cost areas drag the state average up and make single-earner living precarious.
That’s why in high-rent states you still see calls for housing policy fixes alongside wage policy. Even with a comparatively strong floor, minimum work doesn’t equate to affordable independent housing in many cities. Households often rely on subsidies, roommates, or family support. The policy conversation in Massachusetts frequently pairs wage increases with housing supply interventions for this reason.
12. Texas
A full-time minimum-wage worker in Texas earns around $1,257 per month while the statewide average rent is about $1,449, so rent tops take-home pay. Texas is a big state with big regional differences, but the statewide math shows the squeeze on minimum earners. In fast-growing metros like Austin and Dallas the pressure is even greater than the average suggests.
Workers in entry-level positions often accept longer commutes, shared housing, or higher workloads to make ends meet. Employers in hot labor markets sometimes offer higher starting pay, but many small businesses stick close to the legal minimum. Those dynamics feed into local housing policy debates and transit planning. Minimum pay simply doesn’t guarantee housing stability in large parts of Texas.
13. Wyoming
At Wyoming’s effective minimum a full-time worker would bring in about $1,257 per month, while average rent sits around $1,332 a month, meaning rent still exceeds earnings. Wyoming’s lower overall population density masks concentrated housing costs in resource and resort communities where rents spike. For many workers in hospitality, meals, and retail, the minimum-wage paycheck struggles to cover local rents.
Rural Wyoming can be cheaper, but where employers cluster the housing market can be tight and expensive. Workers often rely on employer-provided housing or shared units in tight markets. The state’s figures show that even small gaps between income and rent have big ripple effects. Affordability is a patchwork that often leaves low-wage workers fragile.
14. New York
Even with a relatively high state minimum (varies by location, but statewide averages are high), a full-time minimum-wage monthly income (about $2,687 at the cited rate) still sits just under the state average rent of roughly $2,739 a month. New York’s high rents — especially in New York City and nearby suburbs — mean minimum-wage work isn’t a reliable route to solo housing. Location within the state matters enormously, but the statewide gap is a blunt indicator.
That’s why many minimum-wage workers in the state rely on transit-accessible shared housing or family networks. Employers sometimes offer higher local rates, especially within the city, but market rents still clamp down on budgets. Housing policy and local wages both play into whether a paycheck stretches. For many New Yorkers, finding affordable housing on minimum wage is essentially impossible.
15. Mississippi
Working full time at Mississippi’s effective minimum yields about $1,257 a month while the state average rent is around $1,305 a month, meaning rent edges above take-home pay. That gap might look narrow on paper but it translates to real tradeoffs for households making tight budgets work. Combined with other costs, even a small shortfall pushes people toward shared living or unstable housing.
Rural counties sometimes offer cheaper options, but supply and quality are variable, and transportation costs rise if workers live far from employers. The bottom line is that minimum-wage work in Mississippi rarely buys independent, stable housing without additional help. That’s the heart of the affordability conversation there.
This post 15 States Where Minimum Wage Jobs Pay Less Than Rent in Every City was first published on American Charm.
