News & Trending Jobs & Career News

These 10 Cities Have the Highest Minimum Wage in the U.S.

Learn about the cities where a fair day's wage is more than just a saying.

By Jenny Cohen

Edited by Chris Kissell

Updated Dec. 17, 2024

In many places, it can be challenging to get ahead financially when you're starting in the workforce and expecting to find a job that pays the minimum wage.

However, in some cities, the minimum wage is on the rise. Check out these 10 U.S. cities that have the highest minimum wage.

Earn money online by taking surveys

$55,000 might sound crazy … but with a company called Survey Junkie, it’s possible to get your share of it every day by taking their surveys in your extra time.

Follow these simple steps to start earning:

Sign up for an account with Survey Junkie here.
Take surveys.
Repeat daily and get paid for sharing your opinion!

P.S.: You can cash out with as little as $5 through PayPal or bank transfer, or transfer to gift cards from a number of stores.

Get your share of $55,000 daily by signing up here

10. El Cerrito, California

Minimum wage: $17.92

If you're hoping to stop living paycheck to paycheck, it might pay to relocate to California.

The state has one of the highest minimum wages at $16 an hour. But you can do even better in some California cities, such as El Cerrito.

Who really has the cheapest auto insurance in your area? Check your zip code here.

9. San Francisco, California

Minimum wage: $18.07

Although California has higher minimum wages than many other states, it is important to remember that the cost of living is higher here, too.

For example, the cost of living in San Francisco is 71% higher than the national average, according to real estate website Redfin.

San Francisco was one of several cities in the Bay Area that raised its minimum wage on July 1, 2023.

8. Denver, Colorado

Minimum wage: $18.29

Denver’s new minimum wage went into effect on Jan. 1. A separate minimum wage increase that impacts tipped workers now sits at $15.27 per hour.

Resolve $10,000 or more of your debt

Credit card debt is suffocating. It constantly weighs on your mind and controls every choice you make. You can end up emotionally and even physically drained from it. And even though you make regular payments, it feels like you can never make any progress because of the interest.

National Debt Relief could help you resolve your credit card debt with an affordable plan that works for you. Just tell them your situation, then find out your debt relief options.¹ <p>Clients who are able to stay with the program and get all their debt settled realize approximate savings of 46% before fees, or 25% including our fees, over 12 to 48 months. All claims are based on enrolled debts. Not all debts are eligible for enrollment. Not all clients complete our program for various reasons, including their ability to save sufficient funds. Estimates based on prior results, which will vary based on specific circumstances. We do not guarantee that your debts will be lowered by a specific amount or percentage or that you will be debt-free within a specific period of time. We do not assume consumer debt, make monthly payments to creditors or provide tax, bankruptcy, accounting or legal advice or credit repair services. Not available in all states. Please contact a tax professional to discuss tax consequences of settlement. Please consult with a bankruptcy attorney for more information on bankruptcy. Depending on your state, we may be available to recommend a local tax professional and/or bankruptcy attorney. Read and understand all program materials prior to enrollment, including potential adverse impact on credit rating.</p>

How to get National Debt Relief to help you resolve your debt: Sign up for a free debt assessment here. (Do not skip this step!) By signing up for a free assessment, National Debt Relief can assist you in settling your debt, but only if you schedule the assessment.

Try it

7. Sunnyvale, California

Minimum wage: $18.55

Sunnyvale sits in Silicon Valley, where it's expensive to live. The cost of living in this city is 125% higher than the national average, according to Redfin.

6. Emeryville, California

Minimum wage: $18.67

Emeryville is near the University of California, Berkeley campus and all its young college students.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, around 45% of minimum wage workers are under 25, so the increase is welcome here.

5. Mountain View, California

Minimum wage: $18.75

Mountain View is home to Google's headquarters and its Alphabet Inc. parent company. This is another expensive place to live, so a higher minimum wage helps people to afford day-to-day costs.

Make Money: 8 things to do if you're barely scraping by financially

4. West Hollywood, California

Minimum wage: $19.08

A high minimum wage may be enticing for would-be actors and other residents living in West Hollywood near Los Angeles.

West Hollywood is the only city in the greater Los Angeles area on this list. The five other California cities in the top 10 are all based around Silicon Valley.

3. SeaTac, Washington

Minimum wage: $19.71

SeaTac is the city that surrounds the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. It consists of 10 square miles of space that surround the airport.

You might be able to find a minimum-wage job associated with the airline industry here.

2. Seattle, Washington

Minimum wage: $19.71

The Seattle metro is home to various company headquarters, including Starbucks, Costco, and Amazon. The city is also home to one of the highest minimum wages in the country.

According to Redfin, the cost of living in Seattle is 45% higher than the national average, so a higher minimum wage should help residents keep up with those higher costs.

Earn cash back on everyday purchases with this rare account

Want to earn cash back on your everyday purchases without using a credit card? With the Discover^®️ Cashback Debit Checking account (member FDIC), you can earn 1% cash back on up to $3,000 in debit card purchases each month!² <p>See website for details.</p>

With no credit check to apply and no monthly fees to worry about, you can earn nearly passive income on purchases you’re making anyway — up to an extra $360 a year!

This rare checking account has other great perks too, like access to your paycheck up to 2 days early with Early Pay, no minimum deposit or monthly balance requirements, over 60K fee-free ATMs, and the ability to add cash to your account at Walmart stores nationwide.

Don’t leave money on the table — it only takes minutes to apply and it won’t impact your credit score.

Apply for a Discover Cashback Checking account today

1. Tukwila, Washington

Minimum wage: $20.29

The Seattle area is also home to the city with the highest minimum wage in the country:Tukwila offers a minimum wage of $20.29. That makes it the only city with a minimum wage of more than $20.

Given the high cost of living in the region, it’s unlikely you will be able to retire early on that minimum wage. But it should help your dollars stretch further.

Bottom line

Living in a city with a high minimum wage can be a good option if you’re trying to build wealth.

So, weigh a higher minimum wage against the costs of living in the cities on this list and see if one of these places would make a good new home for you.

More from FinanceBuzz: