#50: Wyoming
Minimum wage: $7.25
In Wyoming, wealth is often tied to energy, agriculture, mining, real estate, and business ownership. Affluent residents may live on large properties or in small towns, enjoying low taxes, wide open space, and quieter lifestyles. Many higher earners benefit from resource-based industries and long-established local enterprises.

On the lower-income side, many Wyoming residents work in retail, food service, tourism, and seasonal outdoor jobs. Long distances between towns increase transportation costs, and limited job options restrict mobility. Even with a lower cost of living, minimum-wage work can make financial security hard to achieve.
