In today’s housing market, minimum-wage earners face an uphill battle in securing affordable rental housing. A recent report by Redfin highlights the stark reality: the average minimum-wage worker in the U.S. would need to work 106 hours per week to afford a median-priced apartment. This calculation is based on an effective national minimum wage of $11.59 per hour and a median monthly rent of $1,599. While the federal minimum wage remains at $7.25 per hour—a rate unchanged since 2009—many states have implemented higher wages, leading to the effective national rate used in the study. Despite these increases, the gap between earnings and housing costs remains substantial.

To put this into perspective, a minimum-wage worker would need to dedicate 32 hours of their weekly earnings solely to cover rent, leaving little for other essential expenses such as food, transportation, and healthcare. This financial strain forces many to seek alternative housing solutions, including shared living spaces, applying for public housing, or relying on housing vouchers.

The disparity varies significantly across states. In New Hampshire, where the minimum wage aligns with the federal rate of $7.25, a worker would need to clock an astonishing 224 hours per week to afford the state’s median rent of $2,110. Conversely, in South Dakota, with a minimum wage of $11.20 and a median rent of $1,085, the required workweek drops to 75 hours—still an unsustainable figure for most individuals.

While median rents have decreased by 6.2% from their peak in August 2022, they remain 20.4% higher than pre-pandemic levels. This modest decline offers little relief to minimum-wage earners, as the fundamental mismatch between wages and housing costs persists.

Addressing this crisis necessitates a multifaceted approach. Potential solutions include increasing the minimum wage to reflect the current cost of living and expanding affordable housing initiatives. Without such interventions, the dream of securing safe and affordable housing will remain out of reach for many hardworking Americans.