Tennessee has no state minimum wage, meaning the federal rate of $7.25 per hour applies. Meanwhile, the MIT Living Wage Calculator estimates that a single adult in Tennessee needs at least $21.99 per hour to cover basic expenses, and far more for households with children. Costs such as food, housing, healthcare, and transportation continue to rise, outpacing wage growth for many Tennesseans
Flat wages paired with rising living costs have created significant financial pressure on Tennessee families. With the living wage nearly three times higher than the minimum wage, many workers struggle to cover basic necessities even while employed full time. Studies also show that wage stagnation correlates with increased poverty, housing insecurity, and reliance on public assistance, making economic stability a central concern for many voters.