#28: Nevada
Minimum wage: $12.00
In Nevada, wealth is often tied to real estate, hospitality ownership, entertainment, finance, and professional services. Affluent residents live in parts of Las Vegas, Reno, or gated desert communities, enjoying luxury housing, dining, and travel. Tourism-driven business opportunities and no state income tax support high-earning lifestyles.

On the lower-income side, many Nevadans work in hotels, casinos, food service, retail, and cleaning roles. Jobs can be physically demanding and dependent on tourism cycles. Rising rents and housing shortages in urban areas make it difficult for minimum-wage workers to maintain financial stability.
