Top 10 US states with the lowest minimum wage

In the United States, the minimum wage is the amount legally authorised to be paid to employees per hour. The wage system is controlled by three-tier laws; the federal, state, and municipal. 

The federal minimum wage ($7.25) which applies to all employees has been regarded as too low to feed an individual and not to talk of a family. Some states minimum wage is higher than the federal government but the focus here is the US states with the lowest minimum wage. Georgia and Wyoming even pay less than the stipulated wage. 

 Below are the US states with the lowest minimum wage as listed by Bloomberglaw:

1. Georgia 

Georgia, in 1991, passed its own minimum wage law, 4.25 dollars per hour. Subsequently, it became 5.15 dollars which is the minimum an employer can pay an employee in Georgia. As of today, there is no plan by the state legislature to increase the wage.

READ ALSO: Top 5 US states with the highest minimum wage

2. Wyoming 

As one of the US states with the lowest minimum wage, Wyoming paid $1.60 for 13 years before increasing it to $5.15 in 2002 which is still the basic till date. 

3. Iowa 

Iowa is a state very critical of its labour laws. One of their focal areas is the minimum wage for employees which is 7.25 dollars per hour and aligns with the federal minimum wage standard.

4. Kansas 

Every employer in Kansas must abide by the minimum wage for employees. The state has many regulations that must be adhered to. One such is that you’re not over-scheduling your employees. The minimum wage paid per hour is 7.25 dollars.

5. Kentucky 

The current minimum wage in Kentucky is 7.25 dollars. However, lawmakers in the state are pushing for an increment (15 dollars per hour) to keep up with the living costs.

6. New Hampshire 

In New Hampshire, every employer must have an accurate record of work hours by each employee. It is also mandatory that no worker is paid below the minimum wage of 7.25 dollars — the standard promulgated by the federal government.

7. North Dakota

Since 2009, in North Dakota, it has been compulsory that employers pay their workers not less than 7.25 dollars according to the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). Employers that work more than the specified hours are expected to be paid more like 1.5 times.

8. Pennsylvania

Regardless of individual status, workers are expected to be paid 7.25 dollars per hour. Different bills have been introduced in the Pennsylvania General Assembly to increase the minimum wage to 11 dollars. Although no changes have been made, politicians are still advocating for an increment.

9. Utah 

The minimum wage, 7.25 is for all workers in Utah unless they are excepted from certain laws at the state or federal level. Also in Utah, there have been various movements by the legislators and other groups for the increase of the wage to 15 dollars considering the rising cost of living.

10. Wisconsin

The current minimum wage in Wisconsin is 7.25 dollars — it has been implemented since 2011. No plan to increase this wage even though there are concerns about the cost of living.