Mississippi folks need to work more hours than most to buy groceries, study says. Here’s how many
Mississippians need to work longer hours than residents in any other state to afford weekly groceries, a new study finds.
People living in Mississippi who make the median household income of $54,203 would need to work 11.15 hours a week to afford groceries, according to an August Utility Rates study.
Researchers calculated how many hours of work are needed a week by dividing the weekly grocery cost in a state by the hourly wage based on median household income and minimum wage.
Mississippi ranks above every other state by at least an hour extra of work needed to afford groceries, according to the study.
Minimum wage workers in the state also work the longest to afford groceries each week, at about 40.09 hours, according to the ranking.
Why do MS people have to work longer?
While people living in Southern states typically need to work more to afford groceries, people in Mississippi take the cake, according to researchers.
This is because the median household income in Mississippi is the lowest in the country at $54,203, the study found.
“The low income level outweighs the state’s relatively cheaper grocery costs, which means residents still spend a large chunk of their earnings on food,” researchers said.
10 states that need to work the longest hours for weekly groceries?
Here are the states where residents need to work the longest hours to afford groceries, based on median household income and minimum wage, according to researchers at Utility Rates:
#1 Mississippi
Median income: 11.15 hours
Minimum wage: 40.09 hours
#2 Louisiana
Median income: 10.11 hours
Minimum wage: 39.03 hours
#3 New Mexico
Median income: 9.57 hours
Minimum wage: 23.87 hours
#4 Oklahoma
Median income: 9.34 hours
Minimum wage: 38.50 hours
#5 Arkansas
Median income: 9.25 hours
Minimum wage: 23.72 hours
#6 Alabama
Median income: 9.08 hours
Minimum wage: 37.47 hours
#7 West Virginia
Median income: 8.89 hours
Minimum wage: 27.34 hours
#8 Kentucky
Median income: 8.66 hours
Minimum wage: 35.11 hours
#9 Tennessee
Median income: 8.32 hours
Minimum wage: 37.30 hours
#10 Florida
Median income: 8.15 hours
Minimum wage: 22.10 hours
This story was originally published September 4, 2025 at 5:00 AM.
