Union density and minimum wages by state
| State | State minimum wage (2021) | Union density (2015–2019 average) |
|---|---|---|
| New York | $12.50 | 24.7% |
| Hawaii | $10.10 | 23.0% |
| Alaska | $10.34 | 19.9% |
| Washington | $13.96 | 19.5% |
| Connecticut | $13.00 | 17.3% |
| Rhode Island | $11.50 | 17.3% |
| New Jersey | $12.00 | 16.8% |
| California | $14.00 | 16.7% |
| Michigan | $9.65 | 15.8% |
| Oregon | $12.75 | 15.6% |
| Nevada | $9.75 | 15.5% |
| Illinois | $11.00 | 15.3% |
| Minnesota | $10.08 | 15.2% |
| Maine | $12.15 | 13.9% |
| Ohio | $8.80 | 13.7% |
| Massachusetts | $13.50 | 13.6% |
| Montana | $8.75 | 13.5% |
| Pennsylvania | $7.25 | 13.3% |
| Vermont | $11.75 | 12.6% |
| Maryland | $11.75 | 12.2% |
| West Virginia | $8.75 | 12.1% |
| Kentucky | $7.25 | 11.8% |
| New Hampshire | $7.25 | 11.7% |
| Washington D.C. | $15.20 | 11.2% |
| Delaware | $9.25 | 11.2% |
| Missouri | $10.30 | 10.7% |
| Colorado | $12.32 | 10.6% |
| Indiana | $7.25 | 10.3% |
| Kansas | $7.25 | 10.3% |
| Alabama | $7.25 | 9.6% |
| Iowa | $7.25 | 9.6% |
| Wisconsin | $7.25 | 9.0% |
| Nebraska | $9.00 | 8.8% |
| New Mexico | $10.50 | 8.3% |
| Wyoming | $7.25 | 7.7% |
| Mississippi | $7.25 | 7.5% |
| Oklahoma | $7.25 | 7.3% |
| Florida | $8.56 | 7.3% |
| North Dakota | $7.25 | 6.9% |
| South Dakota | $9.45 | 6.8% |
| Idaho | $7.25 | 6.3% |
| Tennessee | $7.25 | 6.2% |
| Arizona | $12.15 | 6.1% |
| Virginia | $9.50 | 5.9% |
| Louisiana | $7.25 | 5.8% |
| Arkansas | $11.00 | 5.8% |
| Utah | $7.25 | 5.6% |
| Texas | $7.25 | 5.5% |
| Georgia | $7.25 | 5.1% |
| North Carolina | $7.25 | 3.9% |
| South Carolina | $7.25 | 3.2% |
Notes: Union density is defined as the share of workers in the state who are represented by a union, including union members and other workers who are covered by a union contract, based on the variable “union” from EPI extracts of CPS-ORG microdata.
Union density is defined as the share of workers in the state who are represented by a union, including union members and other workers who are covered by a union contract, based on the variable “union” from EPI extracts of CPS-ORG microdata. We average union density data across 2015 to 2019 for each state to give a more accurate estimate of states’ typical unionization rates over time. We do not include data beyond 2019 in our averages, to avoid any potential distortions related to the 2020–2021 COVID-19 pandemic and ensuing recession.
Sources: EPI analysis of 2015–2019 Current Population Survey Outgoing Rotation Group (CPS-ORG) microdata for all workers ages 16 and older; EPI Minimum Wage Tracker, updated August 2021.
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