While Labor Day is an enjoyable three-day weekend for many, minimum wages for employees remain low across the nation, including in Kentucky.
Here's what to know about the holiday and minimum wages.
Labor Day falls on Monday, Sept. 7, 2026. The holiday is observed on the first Monday in September each year, the U.S. Department of Labor says.
The U.S. Department of Labor says Kentucky's minimum wage is $7.25 per hour, which is one of the lowest nationwide.
The federal minimum wage has remained at $7.25 since July 24, 2009, according to the U.S. Department of Labor.
According to MIT's Living Wage Calculator in Jefferson County, a living wage (for full-time employment) for one adult without children is $21.21 an hour, which is almost three times the current state minimum wage.
One child increases that living wage to $36.16 an hour, two children to $46.94 an hour and three children to $59.20 an hour, which is almost five, nearly seven and over eight times the state minimum wage of $7.25.
The U.S. Department of Labor says the minimum wage for states bordering Kentucky is:
West Virginia: $8.75 per hour.
Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Hawaii, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Vermont, Virginia and Washington lifted the minimum wage on Jan. 1, 2026 according to the report.
Alaska and Oregon will increased their minimum wage on July 1, 2026, and Florida is expected to raise theirs before the end of 2026. California enacted a separate new minimum wage for health care workers as of July 1, 2026.
Former Courier-Journal reporter Marina Johnson contributed to this report.
Katie Wiseman covers trending news for Midwest Connect. Contact her at [email protected]. Follow her on Bluesky, Twitter and Instagram.
This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Labor Day 2026 will be here soon. See the minimum wage in Kentucky