The minimum wage in Arlington is $15.00/hour in 2026. See how it compares to the MIT living wage of $24.00/hour and local cost of living.
Last updated: May 2026 · Data: MIT Living Wage Calculator, C2ER, U.S. Census, BLS, IRS, state and city sources
Calculate annual, monthly, and weekly income at any hourly wage in Arlington.
The minimum wage in Arlington is the Virginia statewide minimum of $15.00/hour. Arlington does not set a separate county minimum wage, so the Virginia statewide minimum applies; Virginia raised its rate to $15.00/hour effective January 2026. The bigger question for most workers is how that compares to what it actually costs to live in Arlington. With average 1-bedroom rent near $2,200/month and a cost-of-living index of 133 (US average = 100), the gap between the minimum wage and a true living wage is significant.
| Benchmark (Arlington, 2026) | Hourly | Annual (full-time) |
|---|---|---|
| Applicable minimum wage | $15.00 | $31,200 |
| MIT living wage (single adult) | $24.00 | $49,920 |
| MIT living wage (family of four, one earner) | $48.00 | $99,840 |
| Federal minimum wage | $7.25 | $15,080 |
| Average rent (1-bedroom, annual) | - | $26,400 |
Living wage figures: MIT Living Wage Calculator for Arlington County. Minimum wage reflects the rate applicable to most private employers in Arlington.
Arlington sits directly across the Potomac from Washington, D.C., and hosts the Pentagon, a dense federal and defense-contracting economy, and Amazon's HQ2 in National Landing, giving it some of the highest household incomes and housing costs in Virginia.
| Local Metric | Arlington (2026 estimate) |
|---|---|
| Metro population | 235,000 |
| County / jurisdiction | Arlington County |
| Cost of living index (US avg = 100) | 133 |
| MIT living wage, single adult | $24.00/hour |
| MIT living wage, one earner supporting a family of four | $48.00/hour |
| Applicable minimum wage | $15.00/hour |
| Average rent, 1-bedroom | $2,200/month |
| Average rent, 2-bedroom | $2,800/month |
| Median home price | $750,000 |
| Median household income | $137,000/year |
| Combined sales tax rate | 6% |
| Effective property tax rate | 1% of value/year |
Local figures are 2026 estimates compiled from the MIT Living Wage Calculator, the C2ER Cost of Living Index, U.S. Census and Zillow housing data, and city and county sources. Verify current figures before relying on them.
The minimum wage in Arlington is the Virginia statewide minimum of $15.00/hour. Arlington does not set a separate county minimum wage, so the Virginia statewide minimum applies; Virginia raised its rate to $15.00/hour effective January 2026. A full-time worker (40 hours/week, 52 weeks) earns about $31,200 per year gross before taxes at that rate.
Not for a single adult. The MIT Living Wage Calculator estimates a single adult in Arlington County needs about $24.00/hour (roughly $49,920/year) to cover basic costs. That is $9.00/hour above the applicable minimum wage, and a one-earner family of four needs closer to $48.00/hour.
At $15.00/hour, full-time work (2,080 hours/year) produces about $31,200 gross. Part-time at 30 hours/week is roughly $23,400/year. Average 1-bedroom rent in Arlington is about $2,200/month, or $26,400/year.
Arlington does not set a separate county minimum wage, so the Virginia statewide minimum applies; Virginia raised its rate to $15.00/hour effective January 2026.
The federal minimum wage is $7.25/hour and has not changed since 2009. Virginia has set a state minimum wage above the federal floor, reaching $15.00/hour in 2026, and that higher rate applies in Arlington.