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Minimum Wage to Salary Chart USA 2026 — What $15/Hour Really Means
Complete chart of hourly to annual salary conversions for every common wage. What minimum wage earners make in each state and how it compares to cost of living.
📅 April 17, 2026⏱️ 8 min read🇺🇸 USA Guide
Key Takeaway: The federal minimum wage of $7.25/hour = $15,080/year. Most states now have higher minimums. But even $16/hour ($33,280/year) leaves workers struggling in high-cost states like California and New York.
Federal vs State Minimum Wages 2026
The federal minimum wage has been $7.25 per hour since 2009 — 16 years without an increase. As of 2026, 30 states and Washington DC have passed higher minimums. Here is the complete picture:
| State | Min Wage 2026 | Annual (40hrs) | Living Wage (single adult)* |
|---|
| Washington | $16.28 | $33,862 | $45,000 |
| California | $16.00 | $33,280 | $52,000 |
| New York (NYC) | $16.00 | $33,280 | $58,000 |
| Massachusetts | $15.00 | $31,200 | $46,000 |
| New Jersey | $15.49 | $32,219 | $43,000 |
| Colorado | $14.42 | $29,994 | $40,000 |
| Texas | $7.25 (federal) | $15,080 | $33,000 |
| Florida | $13.00 | $27,040 | $35,000 |
| Georgia | $7.25 (federal) | $15,080 | $31,000 |
*MIT Living Wage Calculator estimates for single adult, no dependents
What $15/Hour Actually Buys in Major US Cities
$15/hour = $31,200/year gross. After taxes (approximately 18% effective rate): $25,584/year take-home = $2,132/month. Can this person make it in these cities?
- Tulsa, OK: Median 1BR rent $700/month. Remaining after rent: $1,432. Workable with careful budgeting.
- Dallas, TX: Median 1BR rent $1,350/month. Remaining: $782. Very tight. Roommate situation likely needed.
- Chicago, IL: Median 1BR rent $1,800/month. Remaining: $332. Essentially impossible alone.
- Los Angeles, CA: Median 1BR rent $2,300/month. Remaining: Negative. Cannot survive on $15/hour alone in LA.
- New York City: Median 1BR rent $3,500+/month. $15/hour is completely inadequate without roommates or subsidies.
The 30% rent rule (spending under 30% of gross income on housing) requires earning $50,000+ per year to afford even average 1BR apartments in most major US cities. At $15/hour ($31,200/year), workers need roommates, subsidized housing, or very low-cost cities to live within their means.
Tipped Minimum Wage
Federal tipped minimum wage is only $2.13/hour for tipped workers, as long as tips bring them to at least $7.25 total. However, 8 states require paying full state minimum wage before tips: California, Alaska, Minnesota, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, and Wyoming. This is why tipping is both culturally expected and economically necessary for servers in most US states.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is $15 an hour annually?
$15 per hour times 40 hours per week times 52 weeks equals $31,200 per year gross. After federal taxes, Social Security, and Medicare (approximately 18% effective rate for single filer, standard deduction): approximately $25,600 per year net take-home, or about $2,133 per month.
Q: What is the minimum wage in all 50 states?
As of 2026, most states exceed the $7.25 federal minimum. Highest: Washington $16.28, California and New York City $16.00. Many states are at $14-15 per hour. States still at federal $7.25: Alabama, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Wisconsin, Wyoming.
Q: Is minimum wage enough to live on?
In most US cities, no. Even $16 per hour ($33,280 per year) leaves workers severely housing-burdened in coastal cities. The MIT Living Wage Calculator shows that a single adult with no dependents needs $22-35 per hour depending on city to afford basic expenses. The gap between legal minimum wage and actual living wage is significant in high-cost areas.
Q: How much is overtime pay at minimum wage?
Overtime pay is 1.5 times regular hourly rate. At federal minimum $7.25 per hour: overtime is $10.88 per hour. At California $16.00 per hour: overtime is $24.00 per hour. Federal law requires overtime for non-exempt hourly workers who work over 40 hours per week. California additionally requires overtime for over 8 hours per day.
Q: What jobs pay $20 per hour without a degree?
Jobs typically paying $20 per hour or above without a degree: plumber, electrician, HVAC technician (often $25-40 per hour with experience), commercial truck driver ($22-30), dental assistant ($20-25), medical assistant ($18-22), IT help desk ($18-25), wind turbine technician ($25-30), and construction supervisor ($22-35). Skilled trades are particularly strong in 2026.