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Distribution of Low-Wage Laborers in Every State

U.S. states identified with highest percentages of workers earning less than $17 hourly, according to Economic Policy Institute data, visually represented by Visual Capitalist. Three states, namely Mississippi, Louisiana, and Oklahoma, emerge as the leading contenders.

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US States Ranked by Workers Earning Less Than $17 Per Hour: A Graphic Representation, According to...
US States Ranked by Workers Earning Less Than $17 Per Hour: A Graphic Representation, According to Economic Policy Institute, a research institute based in Washington D.C. The visual content indicates that Mississippi, Louisiana, and Oklahoma hold the top spots.

Distribution of Low-Wage Laborers in Every State

Let's dive into the paychecks across America.

Visual Capitalist has cooked up a map displaying the percentage of workers scooping up less than $17 an hour in each U.S. state, based on information from the Economic Policy Institute, a research institute based in Washington D.C. Here's what we know:

  • Mississippi, Louisiana, and Oklahoma top the list as states where the majority of workers are making less than the proposed new federal minimum wage of $17 an hour, as per recent legislation.

Want to get a grasp of the situation? Gaze upon this visualization

Now, let's talk about the bigger picture:

  • State-level minimum wage increases have been on the rise, and these policies' effects extend nationwide. But the maps by Visual Capitalist and the Economic Policy Institute don't specify the exact percentage of workers earning less than $17 in each state. If you require detailed insights, you might want to check specific reports from the aforementioned organizations.

Lemme provide you with a quick rundown of the current U.S. minimum wages:

  • Federal Minimum Wage: Stands strong at $7.25 per hour as of 2025.
  • State-Level Minimum Wages: Many states have surpassed the federal rate. For example:
  • California: Boasts an impressive $16.50.
  • New York: An eye-popping $16.50 in NYC, Long Island, and Westchester, $15.50 elsewhere.
  • Florida: Flashes a $14.00 per hour rate effective September 2025.
  • Washington: Jerks a whopping $16.66.

And that's not all!

  • The Raise the Wage Act intends to incrementally increase the federal minimum to $17 by 2028, potentially impacting millions of workers, especially those at the very bottom of the salary ladder.
  • State and local adjustments are prevalent, with many regions setting rates higher than the federal minimum to account for local cost-of-living variations.

To uncover the exact data on workers earning less than $17 hourly by state, all you need to do is track down specific research or studies from reliable organizations. Clear as day, right?

The map by Visual Capitalist and the Economic Policy Institute show that Mississippi, Louisiana, and Oklahoma have a majority of workers earning less than the proposed new federal minimum wage of $17, as per recent legislation.

The state-level minimum wage increases have been on the rise, with California, New York, Florida, and Washington having rates above the federal minimum.

If you seek detailed insights on the percentage of workers earning less than $17 hourly in each state, you may want to check specific reports from the Economic Policy Institute or Visual Capitalist.

The Raise the Wage Act, if passed, aims to incrementally increase the federal minimum wage to $17 by 2028, potentially affecting millions of workers. To find the exact data on workers earning less than $17 hourly by state, you can track down specific research or studies from reliable organizations.

In addition to federal and state policies, politics and general news play a crucial role in shaping paychecks across America.

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