Washington
$17.13/hr · $685/wk · $35,630/yr FT
Effective January 1, 2026
Updated 2026-07-08 · 2026 rates
Minimum Wage by State 2026
Current hourly minimums for all 50 states + DC with effective dates, official DOL sources, and major city rates. Built for HR, payroll, and workers who need rates that update when laws change — not months later.
By Sammy S. · Founder · AuthorUpdated for 2026
$7.25Federal floor
$18.40Highest (District of Columbia)
31Above federal
51Jurisdictions
Compare states side by side
See who has the higher minimum wage — and why — for corridors like California vs Texas.
Spotlight rates — WA, CA, AZ & TX
Full-time (40 hrs/week) gross at each state's 2026 minimum. Open a state page for tipped wages, city ordinances, and hour examples.
Minimum wage history by state (2020–2026)
Official January 1 rates from the U.S. Department of Labor for every state and DC — see how floors moved year over year since 2020.
| State | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 | Since 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Alabama | $7.25 | $7.25 | $7.25 | $7.25 | $7.25 | $7.25 | $7.25 | Flat |
 Alaska | $10.19 | $10.34 | $10.34 | $10.85 | $11.73 | $11.91 | $14.00 | +$3.81 |
 Arizona | $12.00 | $12.15 | $12.80 | $13.85 | $14.35 | $14.70 | $15.15 | +$3.15 |
 Arkansas | $10.00 | $11.00 | $11.00 | $11.00 | $11.00 | $11.00 | $11.00 | +$1.00 |
 California | $12.00 | $13.00 | $14.00 | $15.50 | $16.00 | $16.50 | $16.90 | +$4.90 |
 Colorado | $12.02 | $12.32 | $12.56 | $13.65 | $14.42 | $14.81 | $15.16 | +$3.14 |
 Connecticut | $12.00 | $13.00 | $14.00 | $14.00 | $15.69 | $16.35 | $16.94 | +$4.94 |
 Delaware | $9.25 | $9.25 | $10.50 | $11.75 | $13.25 | $15.00 | $15.00 | +$5.75 |
| District of Columbia | $15.00 | $15.20 | $16.10 | $16.50 | $17.50 | $17.50 | $18.40 | +$3.40 |
 Florida | $8.56 | $10.00 | $10.00 | $11.00 | $12.00 | $13.00 | $14.00 | +$5.44 |
 Georgia | $7.25 | $7.25 | $7.25 | $7.25 | $7.25 | $7.25 | $7.25 | Flat |
 Hawaii | $10.10 | $10.10 | $12.00 | $12.00 | $14.00 | $14.00 | $16.00 | +$5.90 |
 Idaho | $7.25 | $7.25 | $7.25 | $7.25 | $7.25 | $7.25 | $7.25 | Flat |
 Illinois | $10.00 | $11.00 | $12.00 | $13.00 | $14.00 | $15.00 | $15.00 | +$5.00 |
 Indiana | $7.25 | $7.25 | $7.25 | $7.25 | $7.25 | $7.25 | $7.25 | Flat |
 Iowa | $7.25 | $7.25 | $7.25 | $7.25 | $7.25 | $7.25 | $7.25 | Flat |
 Kansas | $7.25 | $7.25 | $7.25 | $7.25 | $7.25 | $7.25 | $7.25 | Flat |
 Kentucky | $7.25 | $7.25 | $7.25 | $7.25 | $7.25 | $7.25 | $7.25 | Flat |
 Louisiana | $7.25 | $7.25 | $7.25 | $7.25 | $7.25 | $7.25 | $7.25 | Flat |
 Maine | $12.00 | $12.15 | $12.75 | $13.80 | $14.15 | $14.65 | $15.10 | +$3.10 |
 Maryland | $11.00 | $11.75 | $12.50 | $13.25 | $15.00 | $15.00 | $15.00 | +$4.00 |
 Massachusetts | $12.75 | $13.50 | $14.25 | $15.00 | $15.00 | $15.00 | $15.00 | +$2.25 |
 Michigan | $9.65 | $9.65 | $9.87 | $10.10 | $10.33 | $10.56 | $13.73 | +$4.08 |
 Minnesota | $10.00 | $10.08 | $10.33 | $10.59 | $10.85 | $11.13 | $11.41 | +$1.41 |
 Mississippi | $7.25 | $7.25 | $7.25 | $7.25 | $7.25 | $7.25 | $7.25 | Flat |
 Missouri | $9.45 | $10.30 | $11.15 | $12.00 | $12.30 | $13.75 | $15.00 | +$5.55 |
 Montana | $8.65 | $8.75 | $9.20 | $9.95 | $10.30 | $10.55 | $10.85 | +$2.20 |
 Nebraska | $9.00 | $9.00 | $9.00 | $10.50 | $12.00 | $13.50 | $15.00 | +$6.00 |
 Nevada | $9.00 | $9.75 | $10.50 | $11.25 | $12.00 | $12.00 | $12.00 | +$3.00 |
 New Hampshire | $7.25 | $7.25 | $7.25 | $7.25 | $7.25 | $7.25 | $7.25 | Flat |
 New Jersey | $11.00 | $12.00 | $13.00 | $14.13 | $15.13 | $15.49 | $15.92 | +$4.92 |
 New Mexico | $9.00 | $10.50 | $11.50 | $12.00 | $12.00 | $12.00 | $12.00 | +$3.00 |
 New York | $11.80 | $12.50 | $13.20 | $14.20 | $15.00 | $15.50 | $16.00 | +$4.20 |
 North Carolina | $7.25 | $7.25 | $7.25 | $7.25 | $7.25 | $7.25 | $7.25 | Flat |
 North Dakota | $7.25 | $7.25 | $7.25 | $7.25 | $7.25 | $7.25 | $7.25 | Flat |
 Ohio | $8.70 | $8.80 | $9.30 | $10.10 | $10.45 | $10.70 | $11.00 | +$2.30 |
 Oklahoma | $7.25 | $7.25 | $7.25 | $7.25 | $7.25 | $7.25 | $7.25 | Flat |
 Oregon | $11.25 | $12.00 | $12.75 | $13.50 | $14.20 | $14.70 | $15.55 | +$4.30 |
 Pennsylvania | $7.25 | $7.25 | $7.25 | $7.25 | $7.25 | $7.25 | $7.25 | Flat |
 Rhode Island | $10.50 | $11.50 | $12.25 | $13.00 | $14.00 | $15.00 | $16.00 | +$5.50 |
 South Carolina | $7.25 | $7.25 | $7.25 | $7.25 | $7.25 | $7.25 | $7.25 | Flat |
 South Dakota | $9.30 | $9.45 | $9.95 | $10.80 | $11.20 | $11.50 | $11.85 | +$2.55 |
 Tennessee | $7.25 | $7.25 | $7.25 | $7.25 | $7.25 | $7.25 | $7.25 | Flat |
 Texas | $7.25 | $7.25 | $7.25 | $7.25 | $7.25 | $7.25 | $7.25 | Flat |
 Utah | $7.25 | $7.25 | $7.25 | $7.25 | $7.25 | $7.25 | $7.25 | Flat |
 Vermont | $10.96 | $11.75 | $12.55 | $13.18 | $13.67 | $14.01 | $14.42 | +$3.46 |
 Virginia | $7.25 | $9.50 | $11.00 | $12.00 | $12.00 | $12.41 | $12.77 | +$5.52 |
| Washington | $13.50 | $13.69 | $14.49 | $15.74 | $16.28 | $16.66 | $17.13 | +$3.63 |
 West Virginia | $8.75 | $8.75 | $8.75 | $8.75 | $8.75 | $8.75 | $8.75 | Flat |
 Wisconsin | $7.25 | $7.25 | $7.25 | $7.25 | $7.25 | $7.25 | $7.25 | Flat |
 Wyoming | $7.25 | $7.25 | $7.25 | $7.25 | $7.25 | $7.25 | $7.25 | Flat |
January 1 rates 2020–2026 from DOL WHD historical tables and DOL via FRED. Oregon uses BOLI Standard; New York uses remainder-of-state. Open a state page for footnotes and YoY detail.
Browse by state
Tipped rates, city ordinances, scheduled increases, and FAQs on each state page.
Alabama$7.25Alaska$14.00Arizona$15.15Arkansas$11.00California$16.90Colorado$15.16Connecticut$16.94Delaware$15.00District of Columbia$18.40Florida$14.00Georgia$7.25Hawaii$16.00Idaho$7.25Illinois$15.00Indiana$7.25Iowa$7.25Kansas$7.25Kentucky$7.25Louisiana$7.25Maine$15.10Maryland$15.00Massachusetts$15.00Michigan$13.73Minnesota$11.41Mississippi$7.25Missouri$15.00Montana$10.85Nebraska$15.00Nevada$12.00New Hampshire$7.25New Jersey$15.92New Mexico$12.00New York$16.00North Carolina$7.25North Dakota$7.25Ohio$11.00Oklahoma$7.25Oregon$15.55Pennsylvania$7.25Rhode Island$16.00South Carolina$7.25South Dakota$11.85Tennessee$7.25Texas$7.25Utah$7.25Vermont$14.42Virginia$12.77Washington$17.13West Virginia$8.75Wisconsin$7.25Wyoming$7.25Browse by city
Local ordinances that exceed the statewide floor — Seattle, San Francisco, Chicago, Denver, and more.
Seattle$21.30 · WAEmeryville$20.34 · CAWest Hollywood$20.25 · CABerkeley$19.61 · CASan Francisco$19.61 · CADenver$19.29 · COSan Jose$18.45 · CALos Angeles (city)$18.42 · CAMontgomery County (large employers)$18.00 · MDSan Diego$17.75 · CAChicago$17.05 · ILNew York City$17.00 · NYCook County (unincorporated)$15.40 · IL
How this tracker works
1. Browse rates & history
Use the state grid for 2026 floors, or the 2020–2026 history table for official DOL Jan 1 rates — refreshed when laws change.
2. Open a state page
Tipped minimums, tip-credit rules, city ordinances, rate history since 2020, and scheduled increases for that jurisdiction.
3. Model take-home
Convert hourly to annual with the hourly calculator, then estimate net with the US tax calculator.
Always pay the highest applicable rate — federal, state, or local. Multi-city employers should apply the highest rate for each work location. Not legal advice.
Minimum wage trends & insights
States above federal (2026)
$15/hour or higher
Washington, DC, California, Massachusetts, New York, and others — often with CPI indexing to keep pace with inflation.
$10–$14.99/hour
Middle-ground states between the federal floor and high-cost metros (e.g. Illinois, Colorado, Delaware).
Federal floor ($7.25)
About 18 states default to the federal minimum, unchanged since July 2009 — one of the longest freezes in U.S. history.
Why rates vary
Cost of living
High-cost states set higher floors so local housing and transport costs are closer to a livable wage.
CPI indexing
Many states raise the minimum automatically each year; others need new legislation for every increase.
Labor markets
Tight labor markets often push floors up; weaker economies may resist employer-cost increases.
City & local overrides
Cities like Seattle, San Francisco, New York City, and Denver set floors above the state rate. Browse every city profile — employers must pay the highest applicable jurisdiction for hours worked there.
Tipped wages & tip credits
Federally, tipped workers can be paid as little as $2.13/hr if tips bring them to the applicable minimum. Alaska, California, Minnesota, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington disallow tip credits — the full state minimum applies before tips.
Compliance guide
HR & payroll
- Recheck rates around Jan 1 and Jul 1 effective dates.
- Verify every work city — always use the highest rate.
- Keep DOL / state agency citations for audits.
Workers
- Confirm your state and city floors on this tracker.
- Track phased increases so you know when pay should rise.
- Estimate net with our tax calculator.
Business owners
- Budget for CPI-indexed states (often 3–5%/year).
- Watch ballot measures in election years.
- Model multi-location labor cost differences here.
The federal minimum wage debate
The federal minimum remains $7.25/hour under the Fair Labor Standards Act — unchanged since July 24, 2009, the longest freeze without a federal increase in U.S. history. Inflation-adjusted, that floor would be roughly $11–$12 today.
Proposals like the Raise the Wage Act have sought $15+/hour or CPI indexing; as of 2026, no federal increase is scheduled. Meanwhile 31 jurisdictions set higher state or DC floors — a de facto nationwide shift happening at the state level.
Frequently asked questions
The federal minimum wage is $7.25/hour, unchanged since July 24, 2009. At 40 hours/week, that equals $15,080/year gross before taxes.
Washington state leads at $17.13/hour among states. District of Columbia is $17.95/hour. At the city level, Seattle's $21.30/hour is the highest major-city rate tracked here — reflecting cost-of-living differences.
Washington: $17.13/hr (≈$35,630/yr FT). California: $16.90/hr. Arizona: $15.15/hr. Texas: $7.25/hr (federal floor). Open each state page for tipped rates, city ordinances, and weekly pay at 20/30/40 hours.
About 20 states effectively use the federal floor (including Alabama, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Hampshire, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Wisconsin, and Wyoming). The other states + DC set higher minimums.
This page includes official January 1 rates from 2020 through 2026 for all 50 states and DC, drawn from U.S. Department of Labor WHD historical tables and the DOL-sourced FRED series. Many coastal and ballot-measure states rose sharply (often $4–$6+/hr), while about 20 jurisdictions stayed at the federal $7.25 floor. Open any state page for year-over-year detail and footnotes.
Employers must pay the highest applicable rate among federal, state, and local law. If your state sets $15/hour, employees get at least $15 (not the $7.25 federal floor). City/county ordinances may require even more. Always apply the highest rate where work is performed.
Most states adjust January 1 each year. Several also increase on July 1 (Alaska, DC, Oregon, many California cities, Chicago). Florida increases September 30, 2026 to $15/hour. This tracker updates when laws take effect, not months later.
Minimum wage is the legal floor employers must pay. Living wage estimates what workers need to afford basic expenses (housing, food, childcare, healthcare) without government assistance. MIT's 2026 living wage for a single adult is $24–$30/hour in many states — far above state minimums.
Yes — 43 states allow a "tip credit," where employers can pay tipped workers as little as $2.13/hour (federal) if tips bring them to at least the state minimum. Seven states prohibit tip credits: Alaska, California, Minnesota, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington. Always check your state and employer rules.
Minimum wage is the hourly floor. Salaried employees earning at least the minimum wage equivalent (salary ÷ 2,080 hours/year) aren't affected directly, but wage floors influence overall labor-market pricing. Entry-level and part-time positions are most affected.
Versions of the Raise the Wage Act proposing $15/hour (or higher) have been introduced repeatedly but haven't passed the Senate. No federal increase is scheduled. States and cities set their own floors instead.
Use our hourly to salary calculator to estimate annual gross, then use the tax calculator for your state to see federal, state, and FICA deductions. Gross at federal minimum = $15,080/year; net varies by state and filing status.
More ways to use these rates
- State vs state minimum wage comparisons — who has the higher floor, hourly gaps, and why
- City Minimum Wage Profiles — Seattle, San Francisco, Chicago, Denver, and more local floors.
- Hourly Salary Calculator — Convert $/hr to weekly, monthly, and annual pay.
- US Tax Calculator — Estimate take-home from minimum wage in your state.
- US Overtime Calculator — See OT pay when weekly hours exceed 40.
- FICA Calculator — Social Security + Medicare on every paycheck.
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