#15: Iowa
Minimum wage: $7.25
Iowa’s wealth is often rooted in agriculture, agribusiness, insurance, finance, and manufacturing. Affluent residents tend to live in suburban communities near Des Moines or college towns, enjoying spacious homes and steady incomes. Lower housing costs allow higher earners to maintain comfortable lifestyles without coastal-level expenses.

For lower-income Iowans, common jobs include retail, food service, meat processing, and caregiving. Rural regions can limit job mobility, and wages often lag behind inflation. Even with affordable housing compared to other states, tight budgets leave little room for emergencies or long-term savings.
