Groundwork Business Advisory

Groundwork exclusive · 2026 edition

The Leisure Wage, by state

What a worker needs to earn an hour to cover the basics, save a little and still have a life. Ranked from highest to lowest.

  1. 1District of Columbia$27.04 an hour1 county · population-weighted
  2. 2California$24.52 an hour58 counties · population-weighted
  3. 3New York$23.62 an hour62 counties · population-weighted
  4. 4Hawaii$23.52 an hour5 counties · population-weighted
  5. 5Massachusetts$23.13 an hour14 counties · population-weighted
  6. 6Maryland$22.90 an hour24 counties · population-weighted
  7. 7New Jersey$22.51 an hour21 counties · population-weighted
  8. 8Colorado$22.51 an hour64 counties · population-weighted
  9. 9Virginia$22.19 an hour133 counties · population-weighted
  10. 10Oregon$22.03 an hour36 counties · population-weighted
  11. 11Washington$21.58 an hour39 counties · population-weighted
  12. 12Connecticut$21.37 an hour9 counties · population-weighted
  13. 13Florida$20.96 an hour67 counties · population-weighted
  14. 14Arizona$20.55 an hour15 counties · population-weighted
  15. 15Georgia$20.46 an hour159 counties · population-weighted
  16. 16Delaware$20.43 an hour3 counties · population-weighted
  17. 17Nevada$20.16 an hour17 counties · population-weighted
  18. 18Illinois$20.13 an hour102 counties · population-weighted
  19. 19Utah$19.85 an hour29 counties · population-weighted
  20. 20New Hampshire$19.73 an hour10 counties · population-weighted
  21. 21Minnesota$19.60 an hour87 counties · population-weighted
  22. 22Texas$19.50 an hour254 counties · population-weighted
  23. 23South Carolina$19.26 an hour46 counties · population-weighted
  24. 24Vermont$19.24 an hour14 counties · population-weighted
  25. 25Pennsylvania$19.23 an hour67 counties · population-weighted
  26. 26Alaska$19.14 an hour30 counties · population-weighted
  27. 27Rhode Island$18.99 an hour5 counties · population-weighted
  28. 28North Carolina$18.93 an hour100 counties · population-weighted
  29. 29Maine$18.88 an hour16 counties · population-weighted
  30. 30Michigan$18.37 an hour83 counties · population-weighted
  31. 31Idaho$18.20 an hour44 counties · population-weighted
  32. 32Kansas$17.95 an hour105 counties · population-weighted
  33. 33Indiana$17.95 an hour92 counties · population-weighted
  34. 34Wisconsin$17.89 an hour72 counties · population-weighted
  35. 35Tennessee$17.88 an hour95 counties · population-weighted
  36. 36Alabama$17.87 an hour67 counties · population-weighted
  37. 37Nebraska$17.82 an hour93 counties · population-weighted
  38. 38New Mexico$17.73 an hour33 counties · population-weighted
  39. 39Montana$17.73 an hour56 counties · population-weighted
  40. 40Louisiana$17.65 an hour64 counties · population-weighted
  41. 41Missouri$17.41 an hour115 counties · population-weighted
  42. 42Oklahoma$17.25 an hour77 counties · population-weighted
  43. 43Ohio$17.12 an hour88 counties · population-weighted
  44. 44Mississippi$17.06 an hour82 counties · population-weighted
  45. 45Iowa$17.03 an hour99 counties · population-weighted
  46. 46Kentucky$16.96 an hour120 counties · population-weighted
  47. 47Wyoming$16.68 an hour23 counties · population-weighted
  48. 48North Dakota$16.68 an hour53 counties · population-weighted
  49. 49Arkansas$16.57 an hour75 counties · population-weighted
  50. 50South Dakota$16.37 an hour66 counties · population-weighted
  51. 51West Virginia$16.23 an hour55 counties · population-weighted

What the Leisure Wage is

The Groundwork Leisure Wage is the hourly wage a household needs in a county to cover its basic costs, a small savings cushion and a modest budget for everyday leisure. State figures are the average of the state’s counties, weighted by population. Tap any state to open its counties.

How to read it

Only rent is specific to each county. Food, health care, transportation and phone costs are national averages, child care is the state median and taxes follow each state’s 2026 rules. Where Census publishes no usable rent for a bedroom count, Groundwork estimated it from the county and its neighbors (a Groundwork Measure, GWM). That affects counties holding 6% or less of any state’s population. This is version 0.1, a first cut. Questions or press requests: info@groundworkbusinessadvisory.com

Cite as: Groundwork Business Advisory, Leisure Wage, by state, 2026 edition (version 0.1, first cut).

Business documents on a desk

Opening a business and not sure what to pay?

Text us or book a free 15-minute call. We will show you what the numbers say for your county.

Text Groundwork Book a free call