Minimum Wage by State 2026
Current hourly minimums for all 50 states + DC with effective dates, official DOL sources, and major city rates. Updated 2026-07-08 — we refresh immediately when laws change.
District of Columbia
Effective Jan 1, 2026
Since July 2009
| State | Hourly |
|---|---|
| Federal (FLSA) | $7.25 |
| District of Columbia | $18.40 |
| Washington | $17.13up to $21.30 local |
| Connecticut | $16.94 |
| California | $16.90up to $20.34 local |
| Hawaii | $16.00 |
| New York | $16.00up to $17.00 local |
| Rhode Island↑ January 1 | $16.00 |
| New Jersey | $15.92 |
| Oregon | $15.55up to $16.80 local |
| Colorado | $15.16up to $19.29 local |
| Arizona | $15.15 |
| Maine | $15.10 |
| Delaware | $15.00 |
| Illinois | $15.00up to $17.05 local |
| Maryland | $15.00up to $18.00 local |
| Massachusetts | $15.00 |
| Missouri | $15.00 |
| Nebraska | $15.00 |
| Vermont | $14.42 |
| Alaska↑ July 1 | $14.00 |
| Florida↑ September 30 | $14.00 |
| Michigan↑ January 1 | $13.73 |
| Virginia↑ January 1 | $12.77 |
| Nevada | $12.00 |
| New Mexico | $12.00 |
| South Dakota | $11.85 |
| Minnesota | $11.41 |
| Arkansas | $11.00 |
| Ohio | $11.00 |
| Montana | $10.85 |
| West Virginia | $8.75 |
| Alabama | $7.25 |
| Georgia | $7.25 |
| Idaho | $7.25 |
| Indiana | $7.25 |
| Iowa | $7.25 |
| Kansas | $7.25 |
| Kentucky | $7.25 |
| Louisiana | $7.25 |
| Mississippi | $7.25 |
| New Hampshire | $7.25 |
| North Carolina | $7.25 |
| North Dakota | $7.25 |
| Oklahoma | $7.25 |
| Pennsylvania | $7.25 |
| South Carolina | $7.25 |
| Tennessee | $7.25 |
| Texas | $7.25 |
| Utah | $7.25 |
| Wisconsin | $7.25 |
| Wyoming | $7.25 |
State minimum wages change every January 1 in most places, and July 1 in many others. Large payroll websites often update these months late. We refresh immediately when laws change and cite official DOL and state labor agency sources so HR teams and workers get accurate rates.
For HR professionals: Always pay the highest applicable rate — federal, state, or local. If employees work in multiple cities, apply the highest rate for each location.
Check the table above for all 51 rates, effective dates, and source links.
Click any state to see tipped rates, scheduled increases, city ordinances, and detailed FAQs.
Calculate take-home: Use our hourly to salary calculator to convert hourly to annual, then the state tax calculator for net pay.
Browse by state
Click any state for tipped rates, city ordinances, and scheduled increases
Minimum wage trends & insights
Policy, economics, and data behind the numbers
$15/hour or higher
Includes Washington ($17.13), DC ($17.95), California ($16.90), Massachusetts ($15.00), New York ($15.00), and 19 others. These states aim for cost-of-living adjustments and use CPI indexing to stay ahead of inflation.
$10–$14.99/hour
Includes Illinois ($14.00), Maryland ($15.13), Delaware ($13.25), Colorado ($14.42), and others. These states represent a middle ground between the federal floor and high-cost metros.
Federal floor ($7.25)
18 states (mostly in the South and Mountain West) default to the federal minimum. This rate hasn't changed since 2009, making it one of the lowest in the developed world when adjusted for inflation.
💰 Cost of living
High-cost states (California, New York, Washington, DC) set higher minimums to reflect housing, food, and transportation costs. $15/hour buys far less in San Francisco than in rural Mississippi.
📈 Indexing mechanisms
Many states now tie minimum wage to inflation (CPI) so rates rise automatically each year. This eliminates wage stagnation and political delays. States without indexing require legislative action for every increase.
💼 Labor market strength
States with strong job markets and tight labor supplies often raise minimums to attract workers. Conversely, states with weaker economies may resist increases due to employer concerns.
Major cities set their own floors: Seattle ($21.30), San Francisco ($20.16), New York City ($17.00), Denver ($18.07), Washington DC ($17.95). These rates reflect hyperlocal economic conditions.
Employer compliance rule: If an employee works in a jurisdiction with three different minimum wages (federal $7.25, state $15, city $18), they earn the city rate ($18) for all hours in that city.
Payroll complexity: Multi-location employers in tech hubs often pay 2–3x the federal minimum, which significantly impacts labor costs and profit margins. This tracker helps you navigate those requirements.
Federal tip credit: Employers can pay tipped workers as little as $2.13/hour federally, provided tips bring them to the $7.25 minimum. This applies in 43 states.
Seven no-tip-credit states: Alaska, California, Minnesota, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington require employers to pay the full state minimum even before tips — no tip credit allowed.
Why it matters: Tipped workers in tip-credit states can face wage volatility and poverty risk if shifts are slow. Full-minimum states provide more stable income floors.
🏢 For HR and Payroll Teams
- Check our table monthly — Even if you don't think rates changed, set a reminder. New laws take effect on January 1, July 1, and some states use September 30 or other dates.
- Verify across jurisdictions — If employees work in multiple cities/states, look up each location. Always pay the highest applicable rate.
- Click state pages for details — Each state page has local city rates, tipped rates, scheduled increases, and FAQs. Use this before adjusting payroll.
- Document compliance — Save screenshots or receipts from official DOL/state agency sources. If audited, you'll need proof you paid according to law.
👷 For Workers & Job Seekers
- Know your state's rate — Check this tracker to see your state's minimum. If your employer pays less, that's illegal (with rare exceptions).
- Compare city & state rates — If you work in a major city, your employer may owe you the city minimum, not just the state floor. Look it up here.
- Track scheduled increases — Many states phase in raises over multiple years. Know when your minimum goes up so you can plan.
- Calculate annual income — Use our hourly to salary calculator to see what a full-time role at minimum wage earns, then use our tax calculator to estimate net pay.
📊 For Business Owners & Entrepreneurs
- Plan for wage inflation — If your state uses CPI indexing, set aside budget increases each year. Some states rise 3–5% annually.
- Monitor ballot measures — Many minimum wage increases start as ballot initiatives. Follow your state legislature and city council during election years.
- Understand multi-location complexity — If you operate in multiple states or cities, your labor costs vary significantly. Use this tracker to model scenarios.
- Invest in efficiency — As minimum wages rise, automation and process improvements become more attractive. Higher wage floors incentivize productivity gains.
Current status
The federal minimum wage is $7.25/hour, set by the Fair Labor Standards Act. It has been unchanged since July 24, 2009 — the longest period without a federal increase in U.S. history.
Why it matters
If $7.25 had risen with inflation since 2009, it would be approximately $11–$12/hour today. The lack of federal action means real wages (adjusted for inflation) have declined for low-wage workers.
Proposed increases
- The Raise the Wage Act (introduced multiple times) proposes raising federal minimum to $15/hour or higher.
- Various bills have suggested indexing the federal minimum to inflation to avoid future stagnation.
- As of 2026, no federal increase is scheduled, and Congress remains gridlocked on the issue.
How states have responded
With federal action stalled, 32 states + DC have set minimums above $7.25. Many now use automatic CPI indexing so wages rise with inflation without requiring annual legislative battles. This is a de facto nationwide shift in wage policy — happening at the state level rather than federally.
Federal minimum wage
- U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) — Wage and Hour Division: State Minimum Wage Laws
- Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) § 206: Defines federal minimum wage ($7.25/hour since 2009)
- Federal Register: DOL updates and guidance on wage regulations
State-specific rates
- Each state page links to the official state Department of Labor or equivalent agency source for current rates.
- We cite specific state bills, effective dates, and indexed rate formulas (e.g., CPI multipliers) where applicable.
- Example: California Department of Industrial Relations (DIR) at dir.ca.gov
City & local ordinances
- Major city rates are sourced from official municipal labor departments or city council ordinances.
- Seattle, San Francisco, New York, Denver, and others publish their own minimum wage schedules.
- We update these immediately when ordinances change effective January 1 or July 1.
Data update frequency
Last updated: 2026-07-08. We refresh this page whenever state legislation or city ordinances take effect. This tracker is designed for HR professionals, payroll teams, and workers to get accurate, up-to-date rates — not months later like generic websites.
Additional reading
- DOL: Federal Minimum Wage
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) — Economic data, inflation indexes (CPI), and wage trends
- Minimum Wage Tracker (NELP) — Advocacy organization tracking state and local rates
- MIT Living Wage Calculator — Estimates of living wages by state and family size