#20: Maryland
Minimum wage: $15.00
Maryland’s wealth is often concentrated around the Washington, D.C. suburbs, driven by government, defense, biotech, healthcare, and professional services. Affluent residents enjoy high-quality schools, well-funded communities, and proximity to major cultural and economic centers, with many households supported by dual high-income earners.

On the lower-income side, many Marylanders work in retail, food service, hospitality, and caregiving roles. Housing costs are high near job centers, forcing longer commutes. Even with a higher minimum wage, rent, childcare, and transportation expenses make it hard for families to get ahead.
