Minimum wage by state in 2026
The federal minimum wage is $7.25 an hour, but 30 states and Washington, DC pay more in 2026. Washington, DC has the highest minimum wage at $18.40 an hour, and Washington has the highest state rate at $17.13. The lowest is $7.25, the federal rate, which applies in 20 states.
Checked against the U.S. Department of Labor and each state's labor department.
Where the minimum wage is highest and lowest
Highest in 2026
- District of Columbia$18.40
- Washington$17.13
- Connecticut$16.94
- California$16.90
- Hawaii$16.00
Lowest: the federal $7.25
Alabama, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Hampshire, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Wisconsin, Wyoming
Minimum wage in every state
The rate most workers must be paid today, the lowest cash wage for tipped workers, and the next raise set in law or announced. Select a column to sort.
| State | Minimum wage | Tipped cash wage | Next raise | A year, full time | Highest local rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $7.25federal | $2.13 | None set | $15,080 | None |
| Alaska | $14.00 | $14.00 | $15.00 on July 1, 2027 | $29,120 | None |
| Arizona | $15.15 | $12.15 | $15.65 on January 1, 2027 | $31,512 | $18.35 in Flagstaff |
| Arkansas | $11.00 | $2.63 | None set | $22,880 | None |
| California | $16.90 | $16.90 | $17.40 on January 1, 2027 | $35,152 | $20.34 in Emeryville |
| Colorado | $15.16 | $12.14 | $15.71 on January 1, 2027 | $31,533 | $19.29 in Denver |
| Connecticut | $16.94 | $6.38 | $17.48 on January 1, 2027 | $35,235 | None |
| Delaware | $15.00 | $2.23 | None set | $31,200 | None |
| District of Columbia | $18.40 | $10.30 | None set | $38,272 | None |
| Florida | $15.00 | $11.98 | None set | $31,200 | None |
| Georgia | $7.25federal | $2.13 | None set | $15,080 | None |
| Hawaii | $16.00 | $14.75 | $18.00 on January 1, 2028 | $33,280 | None |
| Idaho | $7.25federal | $3.35 | None set | $15,080 | None |
| Illinois | $15.00 | $9.00 | None set | $31,200 | $17.05 in Chicago |
| Indiana | $7.25federal | $2.13 | None set | $15,080 | None |
| Iowa | $7.25federal | $4.35 | None set | $15,080 | None |
| Kansas | $7.25federal | $2.13 | None set | $15,080 | None |
| Kentucky | $7.25federal | $2.13 | None set | $15,080 | None |
| Louisiana | $7.25federal | $2.13 | None set | $15,080 | None |
| Maine | $15.10 | $7.55 | $15.70 on January 1, 2027 | $31,408 | $16.75 in Portland |
| Maryland | $15.00 | $3.63 | None set | $31,200 | $18.00 in Montgomery County |
| Massachusetts | $15.00 | $6.75 | None set | $31,200 | None |
| Michigan | $13.73 | $5.49 | $15.00 on January 1, 2027 | $28,558 | None |
| Minnesota | $11.41 | $11.41 | $11.87 on January 1, 2027 | $23,733 | $16.37 in Minneapolis |
| Mississippi | $7.25federal | $2.13 | None set | $15,080 | None |
| Missouri | $15.00 | $7.50 | None set | $31,200 | None |
| Montana | $10.85 | $10.85 | $11.20 on January 1, 2027 | $22,568 | None |
| Nebraska | $15.00 | $2.13 | $15.26 on January 1, 2027 | $31,200 | None |
| Nevada | $12.00 | $12.00 | None set | $24,960 | None |
| New Hampshire | $7.25federal | $3.27 | None set | $15,080 | None |
| New Jersey | $15.92 | $6.05 | $16.48 on January 1, 2027 | $33,114 | None |
| New Mexico | $12.00 | $3.00 | None set | $24,960 | $15.40 in Santa Fe |
| New York | $16.00 | $10.70 | None set | $33,280 | $17.00 in New York City, Long Island and Westchester |
| North Carolina | $7.25federal | $2.13 | None set | $15,080 | None |
| North Dakota | $7.25federal | $4.86 | None set | $15,080 | None |
| Ohio | $11.00 | $5.50 | $11.40 on January 1, 2027 | $22,880 | None |
| Oklahoma | $7.25federal | $2.13 | None set | $15,080 | None |
| Oregon | $15.55 | $15.55 | None set | $32,344 | $16.80 in the Portland metro area |
| Pennsylvania | $7.25federal | $2.83 | None set | $15,080 | None |
| Rhode Island | $16.00 | $3.89 | $17.00 on January 1, 2027 | $33,280 | None |
| South Carolina | $7.25federal | $2.13 | None set | $15,080 | None |
| South Dakota | $11.85 | $5.93 | $12.30 on January 1, 2027 | $24,648 | None |
| Tennessee | $7.25federal | $2.13 | None set | $15,080 | None |
| Texas | $7.25federal | $2.13 | None set | $15,080 | None |
| Utah | $7.25federal | $2.13 | None set | $15,080 | None |
| Vermont | $14.42 | $7.21 | $14.91 on January 1, 2027 | $29,994 | None |
| Virginia | $12.77 | $2.13 | $13.75 on January 1, 2027 | $26,562 | None |
| Washington | $17.13 | $17.13 | $17.73 on January 1, 2027 | $35,630 | $21.78 in Burien |
| West Virginia | $8.75 | $2.62 | None set | $18,200 | None |
| Wisconsin | $7.25federal | $2.33 | None set | $15,080 | None |
| Wyoming | $7.25federal | $2.13 | None set | $15,080 | None |
Full time means 40 hours a week for 52 weeks, before taxes. Download this table as a CSV file. To work out which rate applies to you, read our guide to minimum wage by state.
Minimum wage by region
Northeast
- Connecticut$16.94
- New York$16.00
- Rhode Island$16.00
- New Jersey$15.92
- Maine$15.10
- Massachusetts$15.00
- Vermont$14.42
- New Hampshire$7.25
- Pennsylvania$7.25
Midwest
South
- District of Columbia$18.40
- Delaware$15.00
- Florida$15.00
- Maryland$15.00
- Virginia$12.77
- Arkansas$11.00
- West Virginia$8.75
- Alabama$7.25
- Georgia$7.25
- Kentucky$7.25
- Louisiana$7.25
- Mississippi$7.25
- North Carolina$7.25
- Oklahoma$7.25
- South Carolina$7.25
- Tennessee$7.25
- Texas$7.25
West
- Washington$17.13
- California$16.90
- Hawaii$16.00
- Oregon$15.55
- Colorado$15.16
- Arizona$15.15
- Alaska$14.00
- Nevada$12.00
- New Mexico$12.00
- Montana$10.85
- Idaho$7.25
- Utah$7.25
- Wyoming$7.25
Regions follow the U.S. Census Bureau's four regions.
Raises in the next 12 months
- Washington rises to $17.73 (announced)
- Connecticut rises to $17.48 (announced)
- California rises to $17.40 (announced)
- Rhode Island rises to $17.00
- New Jersey rises to $16.48 (announced)
- Colorado rises to $15.71 (announced)
- Maine rises to $15.70 (announced)
- Arizona rises to $15.65 (announced)
- Nebraska rises to $15.26 (announced)
- Michigan rises to $15.00
- Vermont rises to $14.91 (announced)
- Virginia rises to $13.75
- South Dakota rises to $12.30 (announced)
- Minnesota rises to $11.87 (announced)
- Ohio rises to $11.40 (announced)
- Montana rises to $11.20 (announced)
- Alaska rises to $15.00
Cities and counties with a higher minimum wage
These places set their own minimum wage above their state's. If you work there, you get the local rate.
California
- Emeryville$20.34
- West Hollywood$20.25
- Mountain View$19.70
- Berkeley$19.61
- San Francisco$19.61
- Sunnyvale$19.50
- Richmond$19.18
- Belmont$18.95
- El Cerrito$18.82
- Cupertino$18.70
- Palo Alto$18.70
- Santa Clara$18.70
- Redwood City$18.65
- San Mateo$18.60
- Pasadena$18.57
- Milpitas$18.50
- Santa Monica$18.47
- Sonoma$18.47
- Unincorporated Los Angeles County$18.47
- San Jose$18.45
- Los Angeles$18.42
- Petaluma$18.31
- Santa Rosa$18.21
- South San Francisco$18.15
- Fremont$18.05
- Unincorporated San Mateo County$17.95
- Half Moon Bay$17.91
- Malibu$17.91
- East Palo Alto$17.90
- Burlingame$17.86
- Foster City$17.85
- Hayward$17.79
- Alameda$17.76
- San Carlos$17.75
- San Diego$17.75
- Novato$17.73
- Menlo Park$17.55
- Daly City$17.50
- Oakland$17.34
Colorado
- Denver$19.29
- Edgewater$18.17
- Boulder$16.82
- Unincorporated Boulder County$16.82
Illinois
- Chicago$17.05
- Cook County$15.40
Maryland
- Montgomery County$18.00
- Howard County$16.00
- Prince George's County$15.30
Minnesota
- Minneapolis$16.37
- Saint Paul$16.37
New Mexico
- Santa Fe$15.40
- Unincorporated Santa Fe County$15.40
Washington
- Burien$21.78
- Tukwila$21.65
- Renton$21.57
- Seattle$21.30
- Unincorporated King County$20.82
- Everett$20.77
- SeaTac$20.74
- Bellingham$19.13
Common questions
What is the federal minimum wage?
The federal minimum wage is $7.25 an hour. It has not changed since July 24, 2009. Tipped workers can be paid $2.13 an hour in cash if tips bring them up to $7.25.
Which state has the highest minimum wage in 2026?
Washington has the highest state minimum wage at $17.13 an hour. Washington, DC is higher still at $18.40, and the highest local rate is $21.78 in Burien.
Which states have the lowest minimum wage?
20 states pay the federal minimum of $7.25 an hour: 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. Georgia and Wyoming have state rates of $5.15, but most jobs there are covered by federal law and get $7.25.
How many states have a minimum wage above $7.25?
30 states and Washington, DC have a minimum wage above $7.25 an hour in 2026. The other 20 states use the federal rate.
Which states raise their minimum wage on January 1, 2027?
16 states have raises set for January 1, 2027: Washington ($17.73), Connecticut ($17.48), California ($17.40), Rhode Island ($17.00), New Jersey ($16.48), Colorado ($15.71), Maine ($15.70), Arizona ($15.65), Nebraska ($15.26), Michigan ($15.00), Vermont ($14.91), Virginia ($13.75), South Dakota ($12.30), Minnesota ($11.87), Ohio ($11.40) and Montana ($11.20).
Do I get the state or federal minimum wage?
You get whichever is higher. If your city or county has its own minimum wage, you get the highest of the three. Some workers, like teens in their first 90 days or tipped workers, can have lower cash wages where the law allows it.
Sources
The table uses the U.S. Department of Labor's state tables, checked against each state's own labor department; each state page lists its state sources (114 official pages in all). Checked .
- State Minimum Wage Laws, U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division, updated
- Minimum Wages for Tipped Employees, U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division, updated
- Changes in Basic Minimum Wages in Non-Farm Employment Under State Law, 1968 to 2024, U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division
- Minimum Wage, U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division
Laws change. If your pay is below these rates, contact your state labor department or the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division at 1-866-487-9243.