The federal minimum wage is $7.25 an hour. In 2026, 30 states and DC set a higher minimum; the highest are $18.40 in DC and $17.13 in Washington. In the other 20 states $7.25 is the effective floor: 5 have no state minimum wage law, 13 set or adopt $7.25, and 2 (Georgia and Wyoming) list a lower state rate that does not override the federal minimum for covered employers. Florida reached $15.00 on September 30, 2026, and Michigan is scheduled to reach $15.00 on January 1, 2027.
Key facts
- 18 states and DC have a minimum wage of $15.00 or more as of September 30, 2026.
- Working 2,080 hours a year (40 hours for 52 weeks), the federal minimum pays $15,080 before taxes; DC’s $18.40 pays $38,272.
- The federal tipped-worker cash wage is $2.13, with a tip credit of up to $5.12; 7 states (Alaska, California, Minnesota, Montana, Nevada, Oregon and Washington) require the full minimum wage before tips.
- Many cities and counties set minimum wages above their state’s. State tables, including DOL’s, do not show them.
Minimum wage in every state, 2026
Rates in effect on September 30, 2026 for the 50 states and DC, from the U.S. Department of Labor’s state minimum wage table. The federal rate has been $7.25 since July 24, 2009 (DOL). Annual pay is the hourly rate times 2,080 hours.
| State | Minimum wage per hour | Above federal | Full-time pay per year | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Federal minimum (FLSA) | $7.25 | — | $15,080 | Applies to employees covered by the federal law in every state. |
| Alabama | $7.25 (federal) | Same as federal | $15,080 | No state minimum wage law; the federal minimum applies to covered employers. |
| Alaska | $14.00 | +$6.75 | $29,120 | |
| Arizona | $15.15 | +$7.90 | $31,512 | |
| Arkansas | $11.00 | +$3.75 | $22,880 | Applies to employers with 4 or more employees. |
| California | $16.90 | +$9.65 | $35,152 | Adjusted annually by a set formula. Higher statewide rates apply to fast food workers and certain health care workers. |
| Colorado | $15.16 | +$7.91 | $31,533 | |
| Connecticut | $16.94 | +$9.69 | $35,235 | Adjusted annually by a set formula. |
| Delaware | $15.00 | +$7.75 | $31,200 | |
| District of Columbia | $18.40 | +$11.15 | $38,272 | Adjusted every July 1 by a set formula. |
| Florida | $15.00 | +$7.75 | $31,200 | Rose from $14.00 to $15.00 on Sept. 30, 2026. |
| Georgia | $7.25 (federal) | Same as federal | $15,080 | State rate of $5.15 applies to employers of 6 or more; the federal minimum applies to covered employers. |
| Hawaii | $16.00 | +$8.75 | $33,280 | |
| Idaho | $7.25 | Same as federal | $15,080 | |
| Illinois | $15.00 | +$7.75 | $31,200 | Applies to employers with 4 or more employees. |
| Indiana | $7.25 | Same as federal | $15,080 | Applies to employers with 2 or more employees. |
| Iowa | $7.25 | Same as federal | $15,080 | Equals the federal minimum when set below it. |
| Kansas | $7.25 | Same as federal | $15,080 | State law excludes employment covered by the federal law. |
| Kentucky | $7.25 | Same as federal | $15,080 | Adopts the federal minimum by reference. |
| Louisiana | $7.25 (federal) | Same as federal | $15,080 | No state minimum wage law; the federal minimum applies to covered employers. |
| Maine | $15.10 | +$7.85 | $31,408 | Adjusted annually by a set formula. |
| Maryland | $15.00 | +$7.75 | $31,200 | |
| Massachusetts | $15.00 | +$7.75 | $31,200 | |
| Michigan | $13.73 | +$6.48 | $28,558 | Scheduled to rise to $15.00 on Jan. 1, 2027. |
| Minnesota | $11.41 | +$4.16 | $23,733 | Adjusted annually by a set formula. |
| Mississippi | $7.25 (federal) | Same as federal | $15,080 | No state minimum wage law; the federal minimum applies to covered employers. |
| Missouri | $15.00 | +$7.75 | $31,200 | Retail and service businesses with under $500,000 in annual sales are exempt from the state rate. |
| Montana | $10.85 | +$3.60 | $22,568 | Businesses with over $110,000 in annual sales. Smaller businesses not covered by the federal law may pay $4.00. |
| Nebraska | $15.00 | +$7.75 | $31,200 | Applies to employers with 4 or more employees. |
| Nevada | $12.00 | +$4.75 | $24,960 | |
| New Hampshire | $7.25 | Same as federal | $15,080 | Equals the federal minimum when set below it. |
| New Jersey | $15.92 | +$8.67 | $33,114 | $15.23 for employers with fewer than 6 employees and for seasonal work. Adjusted annually by a set formula. |
| New Mexico | $12.00 | +$4.75 | $24,960 | |
| New York | $16.00 | +$8.75 | $33,280 | $17.00 in New York City, Nassau, Suffolk and Westchester counties; $16.00 in the rest of the state. |
| New York: New York City, Long Island and Westchester | $17.00 | +$9.75 | $35,360 | |
| North Carolina | $7.25 | Same as federal | $15,080 | |
| North Dakota | $7.25 | Same as federal | $15,080 | |
| Ohio | $11.00 | +$3.75 | $22,880 | Employers with annual gross receipts of $405,000 or more; $7.25 for smaller employers. Adjusted annually by a set formula. |
| Oklahoma | $7.25 | Same as federal | $15,080 | Adopts the federal minimum by reference; $2.00 for some small employers not covered by the federal law. |
| Oregon | $15.55 | +$8.30 | $32,344 | Standard rate; $16.80 in the Portland metro area and $14.55 in non-urban counties. Adjusted every July 1 by a set formula. |
| Oregon: Portland metro area | $16.80 | +$9.55 | $34,944 | |
| Oregon: Non-urban counties | $14.55 | +$7.30 | $30,264 | |
| Pennsylvania | $7.25 | Same as federal | $15,080 | |
| Rhode Island | $16.00 | +$8.75 | $33,280 | |
| South Carolina | $7.25 (federal) | Same as federal | $15,080 | No state minimum wage law; the federal minimum applies to covered employers. |
| South Dakota | $11.85 | +$4.60 | $24,648 | Adjusted annually by a set formula. |
| Tennessee | $7.25 (federal) | Same as federal | $15,080 | No state minimum wage law; the federal minimum applies to covered employers. |
| Texas | $7.25 | Same as federal | $15,080 | Adopts the federal minimum by reference; state law excludes employment covered by the federal law. |
| Utah | $7.25 | Same as federal | $15,080 | State law excludes employment covered by the federal law. |
| Vermont | $14.42 | +$7.17 | $29,994 | Applies to employers with 2 or more employees. Adjusted annually by a set formula. |
| Virginia | $12.77 | +$5.52 | $26,562 | Adjusted annually by a set formula. A 2026 law sets $13.75 on Jan. 1, 2027 and $15.00 on Jan. 1, 2028. |
| Washington | $17.13 | +$9.88 | $35,630 | Adjusted annually by a set formula. |
| West Virginia | $8.75 | +$1.50 | $18,200 | Applies to employers with 6 or more employees at one location. |
| Wisconsin | $7.25 | Same as federal | $15,080 | |
| Wyoming | $7.25 (federal) | Same as federal | $15,080 | State rate of $5.15; the federal minimum applies to covered employers. |
Where a state has no minimum wage law, or sets one below $7.25, the table shows the federal rate that applies to covered employers. Florida’s rate reflects the increase on September 30, 2026; DOL’s table, updated July 1, 2026, still shows $14.00 because it predates that step. Rates are for most employees; some states set different rates for small employers, minors, students or trainees.
Highest minimum wages
| State | Per hour | Full-time pay per year |
|---|---|---|
| 1. District of Columbia | $18.40 | $38,272 |
| 2. Washington | $17.13 | $35,630 |
| 3. New York* | $17.00 | $35,360 |
| 4. Connecticut | $16.94 | $35,235 |
| 5. California | $16.90 | $35,152 |
| 6. Oregon* | $16.80 | $34,944 |
| 7. Hawaii | $16.00 | $33,280 |
| 8. Rhode Island | $16.00 | $33,280 |
| 9. New Jersey | $15.92 | $33,114 |
| 10. Colorado | $15.16 | $31,533 |
* Highest rate that applies anywhere in the state. Rates vary by region in New York and Oregon; see the main table.
Tipped minimum wage by state
Employers may count tips toward part of the minimum wage only in some states. The table shows each state’s minimum wage, the minimum cash wage an employer must pay a tipped worker, and the maximum tip credit, from DOL’s tipped wage table (revised July 1, 2026).
| State | Minimum wage | Minimum cash wage | Maximum tip credit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Federal (FLSA) | $7.25 | $2.13 | $5.12 |
| Alabama | $7.25 | $2.13 | $5.12 |
| Alaska | $14.00 | $14.00 | None |
| Arizona | $15.15 | $12.15 | $3.00 |
| Arkansas | $11.00 | $2.63 | $8.37 |
| California | $16.90 | $16.90 | None |
| Colorado | $15.16 | $12.14 | $3.02 |
| Connecticut (hotels and restaurants) | $16.94 | $6.38 | $10.56 |
| Connecticut (bartenders who customarily receive tips) | $16.94 | $8.71 | $8.23 |
| Delaware | $15.00 | $2.23 | $12.77 |
| District of Columbia | $18.40 | $10.30 | $8.10 |
| Florida | $15.00 | $11.98 | $3.02 |
| Georgia | $7.25 | $2.13 | $5.12 |
| Hawaii | $16.00 | $14.75 | $1.25 |
| Idaho | $7.25 | $3.35 | $3.90 |
| Illinois | $15.00 | $9.00 | $6.00 |
| Indiana | $7.25 | $2.13 | $5.12 |
| Iowa | $7.25 | $4.35 | $2.90 |
| Kansas | $7.25 | $2.13 | $5.12 |
| Kentucky | $7.25 | $2.13 | $5.12 |
| Louisiana | $7.25 | $2.13 | $5.12 |
| Maine | $15.10 | $7.55 | $7.55 |
| Maryland | $15.00 | $3.63 | $11.37 |
| Massachusetts | $15.00 | $6.75 | $8.25 |
| Michigan | $13.73 | $5.49 | $8.24 |
| Minnesota | $11.41 | $11.41 | None |
| Mississippi | $7.25 | $2.13 | $5.12 |
| Missouri | $15.00 | $7.50 | $7.50 |
| Montana | $10.85 | $10.85 | None |
| Nebraska | $15.00 | $2.13 | $12.87 |
| Nevada | $12.00 | $12.00 | None |
| New Hampshire | $7.25 | $3.27 | $3.98 |
| New Jersey | $15.92 | $6.05 | $9.87 |
| New Mexico | $12.00 | $3.00 | $9.00 |
| New York | Varies | Varies | Varies |
| North Carolina | $7.25 | $2.13 | $5.12 |
| North Dakota | $7.25 | $4.86 | $2.39 |
| Ohio | $11.00 | $5.50 | $5.50 |
| Oklahoma | $7.25 | $2.13 | $5.12 |
| Oregon | $15.55 | $15.55 | None |
| Pennsylvania | $7.25 | $2.83 | $4.42 |
| Rhode Island | $16.00 | $3.89 | $12.11 |
| South Carolina | $7.25 | $2.13 | $5.12 |
| South Dakota | $11.85 | $5.93 | $5.92 |
| Tennessee | $7.25 | $2.13 | $5.12 |
| Texas | $7.25 | $2.13 | $5.12 |
| Utah | $7.25 | $2.13 | $5.12 |
| Vermont | $14.42 | $7.21 | $7.21 |
| Virginia | $12.77 | $2.13 | $10.64 |
| Washington | $17.13 | $17.13 | None |
| West Virginia | $8.75 | $2.62 | $6.13 |
| Wisconsin | $7.25 | $2.33 | $4.92 |
| Wyoming | $7.25 | $2.13 | $5.12 |
Notes: Connecticut: Hotel and restaurant workers. Bartenders who customarily receive tips: $8.71 cash wage, $8.23 tip credit. District of Columbia: Employers must pay a cash wage of at least 56% of the standard minimum wage. Florida: DOL lists $14.00 / $3.02 / $10.98 (table last revised July 1, 2026). Computed for the Sept. 30, 2026 increase to $15.00 by keeping DOL's $3.02 tip credit. Hawaii: Tip credit allowed only if wages plus tips total at least $7.00 more than the minimum wage. Montana: Businesses with over $110,000 in annual sales. New York: Tipped rates vary by region and type of employer; see the New York State Department of Labor. Ohio: Employers with annual gross receipts of $405,000 or more. Oklahoma: Employers with fewer than 10 full-time employees at one location and annual gross sales of $100,000 or less: $2.00 basic rate. Oregon: Standard statewide rate; Portland metro $16.80, non-urban counties $14.55.
Scheduled increases
These changes are scheduled or already announced for late 2026 and 2027. Florida’s and Michigan’s are in DOL’s tables; the others come from the announcements by the state agencies named in the table. The list is not complete.
| State | Date | From | To | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Florida | September 30, 2026 | $14.00 | $15.00 | Florida Constitution, Art. X, sec. 24(c); DOL tipped-wage table |
| California | January 1, 2027 | $16.90 | $17.40 | California Department of Industrial Relations, news release 2026-66 (Aug. 13, 2026) |
| Connecticut | January 1, 2027 | $16.94 | $17.48 | Governor Lamont's announcement (Aug. 5, 2026) |
| Michigan | January 1, 2027 | $13.73 | $15.00 | DOL state and tipped-wage tables |
| New Jersey | January 1, 2027 | $15.92 | $16.48 | New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development release (Sept. 29, 2026) |
| Virginia | January 1, 2027 | $12.77 | $13.75 | Governor Spanberger's bill-signing release (April 2026) |
| Alaska | July 1, 2027 | $14.00 | $15.00 | Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development, news release 25-11 (Ballot Measure 1) |
DOL also says these states adjust their minimum wage every year by a set formula, so their rates will change again: California, Connecticut, Maine, Minnesota, Montana, New Jersey, Ohio, South Dakota, Vermont, Virginia and Washington. District of Columbia and Oregon adjust on July 1. New York's Department of Labor says that starting in 2027 the minimum wage will be tied to inflation, using a three-year average of the Consumer Price Index for the Northeast. Washington's Department of Labor & Industries adjusts the minimum wage each year using the CPI-W, announces the new rate on Sept. 30 and applies it from Jan. 1. Formula states missing from the table above announce their new rates closer to January, so check your state labor department.
Cross-check against state agencies
We compared DOL’s table with five large states’ own labor agencies. Texas adopts the federal rate by reference (Texas Workforce Commission).
| State | DOL table | State agency says | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $16.90 | $16.90 per hour for all employers not otherwise covered by a higher industry- or locality-specific minimum wage, effective January 1, 2026 | Matches |
| New York | $16.00 | $17.00 (New York City, Long Island and Westchester) and $16.00 (rest of state), effective January 1, 2026 | Matches |
| Washington | $17.13 | $17.13 per hour in 2026 | Matches |
| Texas | $7.25 | Texas adopts the federal minimum wage rate, $7.25 per hour | Matches |
| Florida | $14.00 | $15.00 per hour on September 30, 2026 | Agency rate is $15.00; the increase took effect after DOL’s July 1, 2026 table |
City and county minimum wages
DOL: Some local governments set minimum wage rates higher than their respective state minimum wage. Such differential provisions are not displayed in this table. Check your city or county and your state labor department for the rate that applies where you work.
Turn an hourly rate into a yearly figure with the salary calculator, see what is left after taxes with the paycheck calculator, add up hours with the hours calculator, and work out time-and-a-half with the overtime calculator.
Frequently asked questions
Which state has the highest minimum wage in 2026?
Washington has the highest of any state at $17.13 an hour, and DC is higher at $18.40. Next come New York at $17.00 in New York City, Long Island and Westchester ($16.00 elsewhere), Connecticut at $16.94, California at $16.90 and Oregon at $16.80 in the Portland metro area ($15.55 statewide standard). These are the rates in effect on September 30, 2026.
Which states have no state minimum wage?
Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina and Tennessee have no state minimum wage law. Georgia and Wyoming have state rates of $5.15. In all 7 states, employers covered by the federal Fair Labor Standards Act must pay at least $7.25 an hour, according to the Department of Labor.
What is the tipped minimum wage in 2026?
The federal minimum cash wage for tipped employees is $2.13 an hour, with a tip credit of up to $5.12. States set their own: Alaska, California, Minnesota, Montana, Nevada, Oregon and Washington require the full state minimum before tips, while other states let employers pay a lower cash wage and count tips toward the rest. Florida’s cash wage, for example, is $11.98 from September 30, 2026. See the table above.
Which states are raising the minimum wage in 2027?
Several increases are already set, according to DOL and state agencies. On January 1, 2027: California to $17.40, Connecticut to $17.48, Michigan to $15.00, New Jersey to $16.48 and Virginia to $13.75. On July 1, 2027: Alaska to $15.00. This list is not complete: many other states adjust their rates every year by formula and announce new rates in the fall, so check your state labor department for the figure.
Can a city or county set a higher minimum wage?
Yes. DOL notes that some local governments set minimum wage rates higher than their state’s and that its table does not display them. Oregon, for example, sets a higher rate for the Portland metro area and a lower one for non-urban counties. If you work in a large city or county, check both your state labor department and your local government.
How much does a full-time minimum-wage job pay per year?
At the federal $7.25, full-time pay is $15,080 a year before taxes, using 2,080 hours (40 hours for 52 weeks). At $15.00 it is $31,200, and in DC at $18.40 it is $38,272. Your take-home pay is lower after taxes; the paycheck calculator shows how much.
What if my state and the federal minimum wage differ?
Employers must comply with both, according to DOL, so a worker covered by both laws is owed the higher rate. In practice that means the state rate where it is above $7.25, and the federal $7.25 where the state sets less or nothing.
Calculators that use these figures
- Salary Calculator: Convert pay between hourly, weekly, monthly and annual amounts.
- Paycheck Calculator: Take-home pay per paycheck after 2026 federal, state and FICA taxes.
- Hours Calculator: Hours between times, weekly time card and pay with overtime.
- Overtime Calculator: Overtime pay at 1.5x or 2x and weekly gross pay.