What is the actual value of the US minimum wage per month in 2025? A practical guide for Brazilians

If you are considering working in the United States, you probably have wondered: how much does someone earning the minimum wage make? The answer is not simple, and that is exactly the point. Unlike Brazil, where there is a single national minimum wage, the American system operates in a decentralized manner — creating a much more complex reality for those trying to understand their actual earnings.

How does the minimum wage work in the USA?

The American structure consists of three levels:

Federal Level: US$ 7.25 per hour — a value that has not changed since 2009.

State Level: Each state has autonomy to set its own minimum, usually between US$ 11 and US$ 16 per hour.

Municipal Level: Cities with high cost of living (New York, Los Angeles, Seattle) set their own minimums, often exceeding US$ 16 per hour.

The result? A worker can earn between US$ 7.25 and US$ 17.50 per hour, depending solely on where they work.

US minimum wage monthly: the real calculation

Converting hourly to monthly is straightforward in the USA. Considering the standard 40-hour workweek:

Formula: hourly wage × 40 hours × 4 weeks = monthly minimum wage

Example with federal: 7.25 × 40 × 4 = US$ 1,160 per month

However, this is just the base. Several states have already surpassed this figure:

• California: US$ 16.50/h → approximately US$ 2,640/month
• Washington: US$ 16.66/h → approximately US$ 2,665/month
• District of Columbia (Washington D.C.): US$ 17.50/h → approximately US$ 2,800/month
• New York: US$ 15.50/h → approximately US$ 2,480/month

Who earns this amount in the United States?

The US minimum wage applies to:

• Workers aged 14 and above
• Employees on regular schedules (not apprentices or interns)
• Professionals who do not rely on tips as their main income

The most common professions include:

• Restaurant and fast-food attendants
• Cashiers
• Stockers and warehouse workers
• Cleaning staff
• Grocery store employees
• Administrative assistants

An important particularity: waiters and delivery drivers who receive tips may have a reduced base salary (up to US$ 2.13/h in some states), as tips supplement their earnings.

Comparison with Brazil: purchasing power vs. absolute value

Direct conversion to reais (considering US$ 1 ≈ R$ 5.20) can be misleading:

Absolute values:

• Federal minimum wage in the USA: US$ 1,160 ≈ R$ 6,032
• Minimum wage in Brazil 2025: R$ 1,518

At first glance, it seems Americans earn almost 4 times more. However, this comparison ignores the cost of living context.

Purchasing power reality:

In the USA, the federal minimum wage is considered insufficient to cover basic expenses:

• Monthly cost of living (excluding rent): US$ 1,185
• National average rent: US$ 1,626
• Total minimum required: US$ 2,811

With US$ 1,160 per month, the bills simply don’t add up.

In Brazil, although R$ 1,518 is also tight in capital cities, the cost-benefit ratio varies greatly depending on the region — being more feasible in smaller cities.

US minimum wage monthly details by region

States with the highest minimum wages:

States with values closer to the federal:

*In practice, the federal minimum of US$ 7.25 prevails

Is it possible to live on minimum wage in the USA?

The answer is straightforward: in most cases, no.

Even working 40 hours a week, the federal amount is clearly insufficient. Cities with higher minimums )such as San Francisco, New York, or Washington D.C.( offer higher wages, but also have the most expensive rents in the country — creating a cycle where earning more still means struggling to pay bills.

For Brazilian professionals, the recommendation is twofold:

1. Research the specific minimum wage of the state where you intend to work
2. Analyze the local cost of living before making any decision

The minimum wage in the USA remains a decentralized and constantly evolving topic, with states regularly approving increases to keep up with inflation — while the federal has been frozen for over a decade.

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