Louisiana Minimum Wage 2026
Louisiana's minimum wage of $7.25 in 2026 is below average in the United States, and it is the same as than the base federal minimum wage of $7.25 still used in 20 states.
Federal 
Louisiana Assuming a standard 40-hour work week, the weekly minimum wage in Louisiana is $290. For full-time employees working 52 weeks per year, the annual minimum wage in Louisiana is $15.1K.
Based on $7.25/hr minimum
Based on $7.25/hr minimum
The minimum wage rate of Louisiana and its neighboring states ranges from $7.25 to $11, with an average of $8. Louisiana, at $7.25, has the lowest hourly minimum wage within this group of states. Arkansas ($11) has higher hourly rates than Louisiana. Mississippi, Oklahoma, and Texas share the same $7.25 hourly rate as Louisiana.
Louisiana Louisiana's cost of living index for 2025 is 92.3, which places it as the 38th most expensive state to live in the United States.
National 100
Louisiana 92.3
Assuming a standard 40-hour work week, the real wage in Louisiana, adjusted for the state’s cost of living index of 92.3, is approximately $7.85 per hour. This means that while the nominal minimum wage is $7.25 per hour, the purchasing power of those earnings is higher due to Louisiana's lower cost of living expenses. For full-time employees, the real weekly earnings amount to roughly $314.19, translating to an annual purchasing power of $16,338.03 when working 52 weeks per year.
Adjusted
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According to the most recent data, the median household income in the United States has seen a significant increase in 2023.
Louisiana does not have a state minimum wage law, meaning most workers are covered by the federal minimum wage set under the Fair Labor Standards Act. The rate has remained unchanged since 2009, and any increases depend on federal action or future state legislation, which has been proposed but not enacted.
