Minimum wage increases linked to lower rates of maternal hypertensive disorders

State-level increases in the minimum wage may be associated with meaningful improvements in maternal health, according to a new population-based analysis published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine. The study found that higher minimum wages were linked to lower rates of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, a group of conditions that are among the leading causes of maternal morbidity and mortality in the United States.¹

Examining policy effects on maternal health

Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, including gestational hypertension, preeclampsia, and eclampsia, represent a major public health concern, particularly in disadvantaged communities. These conditions are associated with serious risks for pregnant individuals and infants, including stroke, heart disease, seizures, and preterm birth. Prior research has shown that rates of these disorders are higher in lower-income populations, where chronic stress and economic insecurity are more prevalent.²

To better understand whether economic policy may influence these outcomes, researchers analyzed national and state-level data in the United States spanning nearly 3 decades. Using information from the Global Burden of Disease study from 1992 to 2019, the investigators assessed how changes in state minimum wage laws were associated with the incidence of maternal hypertensive and other obstetric disorders.¹

How does wage affect hypertensive disorders?

The analysis relied on generalized difference-in-differences models to compare maternal health outcomes before and after state-level minimum wage increases, while accounting for demographic characteristics, political context, and other economic policies such as the Earned Income Tax Credit and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families. Over the study period, 61 state-level minimum wage increases of at least $1 occurred across the United States.²

The mean incidence of maternal hypertensive disorders was 410 cases per 100,000 women. In fully adjusted models, a $1 or greater increase in the minimum wage was associated with a reduction of 64.1 cases of maternal hypertensive disorders per 100,000 women over 5 years (95% CI, −108.6 to −19.7). These findings were consistent across multiple analytic approaches, including two-way fixed effects models and methods designed to address staggered policy implementation.¹

The researchers suggested that improvements in maternal health may not occur immediately after a wage increase, but rather emerge over time as higher income reduces stress and supports healthier behaviors. According the researchers, the greatest reductions in hypertensive disorders appeared 2 to 4 years after a wage increase, reflecting “the time it takes for higher wages to translate into reduced stress, improved nutrition and healthier behaviors.”²

“Social determinants of health have an important impact on people's well-being across their life course, and it’s no different for pregnancy,” said Slawa Rokicki, PhD, assistant professor at the Rutgers School of Public Health and lead author of the study.

The findings may be particularly relevant for states where the minimum wage remains at or near the federal level of $7.25 per hour.

“The federal minimum wage hasn't been raised since 2009; it’s a poverty wage and is worth less now than it was in the 1960s,” Rokicki said. “Increasing the minimum wage is going to have profound impacts on peoples’ lives; the research on that is indisputable. We find it also has important impacts on health during pregnancy.”

Implications and future research

The authors emphasize that hypertensive and other obstetric disorders are multifactorial, and the minimum wage policy is only one of many influences on maternal health. Still, the findings add to growing evidence that structural and social determinants of health, including economic security, play an important role in pregnancy outcomes.

“There is an abundance of research linking higher minimum wages to improved health outcomes,” Rokicki said. “Our findings add to that evidence by showing meaningful benefits for maternal health.”

The investigators noted that additional research using individual-level data is needed to explore whether these effects differ by race, ethnicity, or other subgroups, and to better understand the mechanisms linking economic policy and maternal health outcomes.¹

References:

1. McGovern ME, Rokicki S, Ahn H, Reichman NE. Minimum wage policies and obstetric disorders in the U.S. American Journal of Preventive Medicine. Accessed January 15, 2026. https://www.ajpmonline.org/article/S0749-3797(25)00624-5/fulltext
2. Bruno G. Rutgers researchers find that every $1 increase in wages is associated with fewer pregnancy-related hypertensive disorders. Rutgers. Press release. Published January 13, 2026. Accessed January 15, 2026. https://www.rutgers.edu/news/minimum-wage-increases-are-linked-safer-pregnancies