Study Shows Many Americans Need to Work More than 20 Hours a Week Just to Afford Groceries

Hours Americans Work To Afford Groceries

What does it take to put food on the table each week?

If you’re fortunate enough to be middle class, this probably isn’t something you think about. But this is a question that looms large over millions of Americans, especially minimum wage workers. The minimum hourly wage hasn’t increased since 2009, while prices have increased by around 47% since then.

Financial experts say you shouldn’t spend more than 4–6 times your hourly wage on groceries. In practice, that’s easier said than done. Many Americans find that their grocery bill costs way more than six times their wage, and often end up needing to work multiple jobs to make ends meet.

The struggle is especially hard on minimum-wage earners, but even median-income earners feel the pinch in some states.

So, which states make grocery bills manageable, and which are leaving families stretched thin? Let’s break it down.

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Key Takeaways

  • Many Americans spend over 50% of their earnings just on food.
  • In states with higher minimum wages (e.g., Washington and Oregon), workers require less than one full workday a week to afford groceries.
  • Grocery expenses in higher-cost states (e.g., California and Massachusetts) account for about 30% of minimum wages.
  • In Mississippi, minimum-wage earners need to work around 26 hours weekly to afford groceries. Nearby states like Louisiana and Georgia are similar, at 23 hours.
  • Median-wage workers spend under 11 hours a week working to buy groceries across all states.
  • The District of Columbia is the best place for both median and minimum-wage earners. For less than 10 hours a week, workers can afford groceries.

Most Minimum-Wage Earners Need to Work Over 15 Hours Weekly to Afford Groceries

Here’s a sobering reality: for many minimum-wage workers, keeping the pantry stocked is an unattainable goal. Even if they can keep their fridge full, most people can’t afford to keep a rainy day fund or save up for a vacation. 

Take Mississippi, for instance. Minimum wage workers need to spend more than half a week’s worth (26 hours) of wages just to afford to feed themselves. With the minimum wage stuck at $7.25, a whopping 65% of a paycheck goes straight to groceries — the highest percentage in the country.

The strain becomes especially tough when you consider the US median rent of $1,400. Many workers are left running on empty, even ending up in debt, just to cover the bare essentials. 

You’d think higher minimum wages would ease the pressure. But it’s not always that simple. Alaska has a minimum wage of over $10 per hour, but people still have to put in almost 20 hours each week just to afford groceries. 

Why? Alaska’s higher cost of living eats up those higher wages, leaving workers in a similar bind. The silver lining here is that a higher minimum wage generally leads to a higher quality of life in most states. It does, however, put into question what we consider a “liveable wage.”

States with Higher Minimum Wages Make it Easier for Workers to Afford Groceries

In Washington, Rhode Island, and Vermont, things look a little brighter. You’d need under 10 hours of minimum wage work to afford food — a stark contrast to the 26 needed in Mississippi. Maine and D.C. take it up a notch, where you can get by on just nine hours.

D.C. is the one that really shines here; it’s particularly worker-friendly. With the highest minimum wage and the lowest percentage of income spent on groceries, people need fewer working hours to cover the basics, leaving more wiggle room for other expenses.

Map of the US showing the number of hours needed to afford one week of groceries in each state for workers earning minimum wage.

Plus, these states go beyond higher wages. They also offer affordable housing programs, healthcare support, and good worker protections. Things like these tend to help minimum wage earners because making more money isn’t the only answer. Sometimes easing the burden of life can help just as much.

For instance, Washington state pairs the highest minimum wages in the country with solid public transport (especially in areas like Seattle). This can save you a couple of hundred dollars that would otherwise go to keeping a car running.

Even some places like Maine and Vermont, where minimum wages are slightly lower, make up for it with lower grocery costs and greater community support.

Minimum-Wage Earners May Need to Work Two Jobs to Afford Essentials

Things get tougher in states like Mississippi, North Carolina, and Louisiana, where the minimum wage hovers around $7.25 per hour. Many people find themselves working a second job just to stay afloat.

Remember Mississippi, where groceries take over 65% of minimum wage earners’ weekly income? In North Carolina and Louisiana, it’s not much better. Workers here spend 23 hours of wages per week just to afford food, which eats up to 59% of their earnings. Can you imagine having to pay rent on top of that?

Minimum-wage workers in Mississippi, North Carolina, and Louisiana spend over 50% of their earnings on groceries, prompting many to consider second jobs.

It’s not just food, either. Some of these same states lack affordable housing and healthcare options. This can make it even harder for them, especially if they get sick or suffer an injury.

Even in states where grocery costs aren’t skyrocketing, like South Carolina, Texas, and North Dakota, things aren’t looking so good. For example, in South Carolina, they’re spending nearly 23 hours of their weekly wages — more than half of their paycheck — just on groceries. With that high of a grocery cost, health takes a backseat.

While the minimum wage remains stagnant, rising grocery costs continue to stretch workers’ budgets. It’s no wonder Americans are spending more time at home than ever before.

Hours Needed for Median-Income Earners

Median-wage workers are the backbone of the US workforce. Sitting between minimum wage and top earners, they make up the majority of the US population. They’re the ones that keep local businesses running because outside of top earners, they’re the only ones who can afford a night out from time to time. 

So, let’s see how they’re managing grocery costs in different parts of the country.

map showing how many work hours are needed to afford groceries by state

In states like New Hampshire, Minnesota, and the District of Columbia, people can get by with 5 hours or less of work per week to cover their grocery bills — roughly an eighth of their income. This leaves enough room for both savings and discretionary spending, but they still have to keep an eye on their budgets.

The landscape changes in Alaska or New Jersey. Despite higher median incomes, median-wage earners have to set aside around 8 hours weekly to pay for groceries. A far cry from the entire weeks of work minimum-wage earners have to put in, but it’s not ideal.

This shows the hefty impact of living in high-cost areas, where a significant chunk of income — about 20% — goes straight into keeping the pantry stocked.

Montana and Wyoming fall somewhere in the middle. Here, the cost of living isn’t as steep as in Alaska and Jersey, but it’s still substantial enough that median-income earners spend about 6 to 7 hours working weekly on groceries. So, almost a fifth of their paycheck goes directly to food, which doesn’t account for any “luxury” spending.

This goes to show that even in states with relatively higher incomes, the cost of daily essentials like groceries can still take up a notable portion of the paycheck.

Median-Wage Workers in Washington D.C. Need to Work Fewer than 4 Hours to Afford Groceries

D.C. strikes a great balance between reasonable living costs and solid wages, making it a perfect place for the average American.

In D.C., median wage earners work less than 4 hours a week to afford groceries

The median wage in D.C. sits at $40 an hour. This means workers spend just under 4 hours of their weekly working hours on groceries. That leaves room for bills, savings, or just treating yourself. 

With the add-on of plenty of job opportunities, it’s safe to say D.C. is the place to be as far as affording necessities goes.

However, other states do well in this area, too. Maine, Wisconsin, New Hampshire, and Minnesota have lower median wages at around $23 per hour, but they still manage to keep grocery spending under 15%, equating to less than 6 working hours per week.

So, even with slightly lower wages, people can still live comfortably.

Some Median-Income Earners Work Around One Full Day to Afford Groceries

When we look at some states, a common thread emerges — they all significantly burden median wage earners when it comes to affording groceries. 

Mississippi’s hourly median wage is the lowest on this list, but its average weekly grocery spend is pretty similar to the others. That means people living there work almost 11 hours each week just to feed themselves.

Mississippi has the lowest hourly median wage in the country with its average weekly grocery spend reflecting those of other states.

The situation is almost identical in West Virginia, Louisiana, and South Carolina. The median wage is around $20 per hour, which means workers have to work a full day every week for basic groceries, which translates to 20% of their wage.

Even in Hawaii, where the median wage is $24, the grocery bill is hefty. Workers here still need a day of work each week just to put food on the table. 

Conclusion

Looking at the grocery affordability data across the US, it’s clear that where you live matters. 

For those earning minimum wage, especially in states with lower pay and higher living costs, most of their paycheck goes straight to groceries. Over 26 hours of work just to cover the basics — it’s a tough reality, even if you ignore all the other basic expenses such as commuting, rent, toiletries, etc.

Unsurprisingly, many minimum-wage earners need to work two full-time jobs just to cover life’s bare essentials. 

If we take rent into account — workers in the US need to earn $32 an hour to afford a modest two-bedroom apartment — then every hour of working goes towards survival.

States with higher minimum wages and lower grocery costs offer some relief. Notably, D.C. and Maine do great in this area. Workers can manage their grocery bills more comfortably, thanks to better pay and more supportive programs.

Methodology & Sources

This analysis is based on recent data from various economic studies and government sources.

We began by gathering the latest median annual income data for individuals and households in each state from the U.S. Census Bureau. Next, we sourced minimum wage income figures for each state from the U.S. Department of Labor. Using data from the U.S. Census Household Pulse Survey, we calculated the weekly grocery costs for households in each state. This approach allowed us to analyze and understand the financial implications of grocery expenses relative to income across different states.