I was researching about the minimum wage in the United States in 2025 and noticed that many people have questions about how it works there. The truth is that the American system is quite different from ours.

There, the federal minimum has been US$7.25 per hour since 2009 and hasn't changed since. But here’s the difference: each state, each city can set a higher rate if they want. This means that depending on where you work, you can earn from US$7.25 up to US$17.50 per hour. That’s quite a difference.

If we calculate using the federal minimum and a standard 40-hour workweek, it amounts to about US$1,160 per month. But in places like Washington DC, which has the highest minimum wage in the US, the minimum is US$17.50 per hour, which yields about US$2,800 monthly.

The interesting part is that states like California and New York are already well above that. New York offers US$15.50 per hour statewide and US$16.50 in the city. California is also at US$16.50. Washington is at US$16.66. Meanwhile, some states like Georgia and Wyoming have much lower rates, but in practice, the federal minimum still applies.

For those wanting to understand how much that is in reais, considering the exchange rate around R$5.20, the federal minimum would be about R$6,032 per month. In Washington DC, it would reach R$14,560. It seems like a lot, but when you analyze the cost of living there, the story is different.

The question is: is it possible to live on the minimum wage in the United States in 2025? Honestly, in most cases, no. Even working 40 hours straight, the federal minimum of US$1,160 doesn’t cover basic expenses. The average rent there is around US$1,626, and other expenses reach US$1,185. The numbers just don’t add up.

In states with higher minimums like California or DC, the salary is higher, but rents are also the most expensive in the country. It’s like a cycle.

Comparing to Brazil, in 2025 the minimum there was US$1,160 while here it was R$1,518. Converting directly into reais shows a big difference, but the purchasing power is another story. One dollar there buys less than the equivalent in reais here, so this absolute difference doesn’t translate into a proportional quality of life.

The American system is quite decentralized. While the federal rate remains frozen, states and cities have been approving increases to keep up with inflation and local costs. For those thinking about working there, it’s important to research not only the state minimum but also how much it costs to live in that specific region. The difference between states is huge.