Minimum Wage by State 2026: Complete Table for US Employers
Current minimum wage for all 50 states and DC, with every scheduled change and its source. Includes tipped-employee rules and compliance notes for employers.
Short answer
The federal minimum wage is $7.25 per hour, unchanged since July 24, 2009, but more than 30 states and many cities set higher rates, and the highest applicable rate always applies. The table below lists every state’s current 2026 minimum and its next scheduled change, generated from the same data our calculators use.
The federal minimum wage remains $7.25/hour — unchanged since 2009. But 30+ states and dozens of cities have higher minimums that employers must follow. This table covers the current state minimum wage rates for 2026, along with notes on upcoming increases.
What Is the Federal Minimum Wage?
The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) sets a federal minimum wage of $7.25/hour. States, counties, and cities may set higher minimums, and the higher rate always applies. If your state minimum is $15.00/hr, you must pay at least $15.00 — the federal $7.25 is irrelevant.
The federal rate has been $7.25 since July 24, 2009, making it the longest period without an increase since the federal minimum wage was established in 1938.
2026 State Minimum Wage Table
This table is generated from the same rate schedule our calculators use, so the numbers here and in the Tip Credit Calculator and overtime calculators always match. The baseline is the U.S. Department of Labor's state table (updated July 1, 2026), plus later changes announced by each state; every "next change" links to its source.
| State | Current rate | Next scheduled change |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $7.25 | — |
| Alaska | $14.00 | $15.00 on Jul 1, 2027 |
| Arizona | $15.15 | $15.65 on Jan 1, 2027 |
| Arkansas | $11.00 | — |
| California | $16.90 | $17.40 on Jan 1, 2027 |
| Colorado | $15.16 | $15.71 on Jan 1, 2027 |
| Connecticut | $16.94 | $17.48 on Jan 1, 2027 |
| Delaware | $15.00 | — |
| District of Columbia | $18.40 | — |
| Florida | $15.00 | — |
| Georgia | $7.25 | — |
| Hawaii | $16.00 | $18.00 on Jan 1, 2028 |
| Idaho | $7.25 | — |
| Illinois | $15.00 | — |
| Indiana | $7.25 | — |
| Iowa | $7.25 | — |
| Kansas | $7.25 | — |
| Kentucky | $7.25 | — |
| Louisiana | $7.25 | — |
| Maine | $15.10 | $15.70 on Jan 1, 2027 |
| Maryland | $15.00 | — |
| Massachusetts | $15.00 | — |
| Michigan | $13.73 | $15.00 on Jan 1, 2027 |
| Minnesota | $11.41 | $11.87 on Jan 1, 2027 |
| Mississippi | $7.25 | — |
| Missouri | $15.00 | — |
| Montana | $10.85 | $11.20 on Jan 1, 2027 |
| Nebraska | $15.00 | $15.26 on Jan 1, 2027 |
| Nevada | $12.00 | — |
| New Hampshire | $7.25 | — |
| New Jersey | $15.92 | $16.48 on Jan 1, 2027 |
| New Mexico | $12.00 | — |
| New York (NYC, Long Island, Westchester) | $17.00 | — |
| New York (rest of state) | $16.00 | — |
| North Carolina | $7.25 | — |
| North Dakota | $7.25 | — |
| Ohio | $11.00 | $11.40 on Jan 1, 2027 |
| Oklahoma | $7.25 | — |
| Oregon (Portland metro) | $16.80 | — |
| Oregon (nonurban counties) | $14.55 | — |
| Oregon (standard) | $15.55 | — |
| Pennsylvania | $7.25 | — |
| Rhode Island | $16.00 | $17.00 on Jan 1, 2027 |
| South Carolina | $7.25 | — |
| South Dakota | $11.85 | $12.30 on Jan 1, 2027 |
| Tennessee | $7.25 | — |
| Texas | $7.25 | — |
| Utah | $7.25 | — |
| Vermont | $14.42 | — |
| Virginia | $12.77 | $13.75 on Jan 1, 2027 |
| Washington | $17.13 | $17.73 on Jan 1, 2027 |
| West Virginia | $8.75 | — |
| Wisconsin | $7.25 | — |
| Wyoming | $7.25 | — |
Rates as of October 23, 2026. Where a state rate is below $7.25, FLSA-covered employers pay the federal $7.25, shown here. Local (city and county) minimums can be higher.
Notes on the table:
- New York has two rates: $17.00 in New York City, Long Island and Westchester, $16.00 elsewhere. There is no increase on January 1, 2027 because an off-ramp condition was met.
- Oregon has three regional rates, adjusted every July 1.
- Florida reached $15.00 on September 30, 2026, the last step of its constitutional amendment.
- Georgia and Wyoming have a $5.15 state rate, but FLSA-covered employers must pay $7.25.
- Ohio, Montana and Oklahoma apply lower rates to some small businesses not covered by the FLSA; the table shows the rate for covered employers.
See every change taking effect on January 1, 2027 in Minimum Wage by State 2027.
Local Minimums
Many cities and counties set minimums above their state rate — for example Seattle, San Francisco, Denver, Chicago and much of the San Francisco Bay Area. Local rates often change on January 1 or July 1. If employees work within a city or county with a higher minimum, the local rate applies. Check the city or county labor office for the current figure.
Minimum Wage and Overtime
The minimum wage matters for overtime in two specific ways:
1. Regular rate floor. The FLSA requires that the regular rate of pay (total weekly compensation ÷ total hours worked) must equal or exceed the applicable minimum wage. If a salaried employee works many hours in a week and their effective hourly rate falls below the minimum, the employer must make up the difference.
2. Fluctuating workweek minimum. Under the FWW method (29 CFR §778.114), the regular rate must meet or exceed minimum wage every week. In high-hour weeks with a modest salary, employers using FWW must check this weekly.
Our FLSA Overtime Calculator and Fluctuating Workweek Calculator both check the regular rate against the applicable state minimum wage when you select a state.
How Does the Minimum Wage Work for Tipped Employees?
Under federal law, employers may pay tipped employees a cash wage as low as $2.13/hr — but only if tips bring the total to at least $7.25/hr. If they don't, the employer must make up the difference. Many states have eliminated the tip credit entirely and require full minimum wage regardless of tips.
States with no tip credit (must pay full minimum wage to tipped employees): Alaska, California, Minnesota, Montana, Nevada, Oregon and Washington.
Use our Tip Credit Calculator to check whether a tipped employee's cash wage plus tips meets the applicable minimum wage, and how much an employer must make up if it falls short.
Staying Compliant
Minimum wage violations are strict liability under the FLSA — good faith is not a defense. Recommended practices:
- Set a calendar reminder for January 1 each year to check for state minimum wage increases
- If operating in multiple states, maintain a state-by-state minimum wage tracker
- When using the FWW method, run a weekly minimum wage check
- Keep payroll records for at least 3 years (FLSA requirement)
Sources
- U.S. DOL — Minimum Wage Laws in the States (updated July 1, 2026)
- New York State — Minimum wage for 2027
- U.S. DOL — Federal Minimum Wage
- 29 CFR §531 — Wage payments under the FLSA (tipped employees)
Frequently asked questions
What is the federal minimum wage in 2026?
$7.25 per hour, the rate in effect since July 24, 2009. States, counties and cities may set higher minimums, and the higher rate controls.
Which rate applies when state and federal minimum wages differ?
The higher one. If the state minimum is $15.00, employers must pay at least $15.00; the federal $7.25 is irrelevant in that state.
Which states have no tip credit?
Alaska, California, Minnesota, Montana, Nevada, Oregon and Washington require the full minimum wage for tipped employees regardless of tips. Under federal law the cash wage can be as low as $2.13 if tips bring the total to $7.25.
Does New York raise its minimum wage on January 1, 2027?
No. New York stays at $17.00 in New York City, Long Island and Westchester and $16.00 elsewhere because an inflation off-ramp condition was met.
When did Florida reach a $15.00 minimum wage?
On September 30, 2026, the last step of its constitutional amendment. Later increases follow inflation.
Try our free calculators
Verify the numbers for your specific situation — built on the same DOL sources cited above.
Related reading
- Minimum Wage by State 2027: Every Increase on January 1Fifteen states raise their minimum wage on January 1, 2027, New York freezes, and more increases follow mid-year. Full table with the source for each rate.
- Exempt Salary Threshold by State 2027 (and 2026)The federal exempt salary stays at $684/week in 2027, but California, Washington and other states set much higher floors. Table of 2026 and 2027 thresholds with sources.
- Overtime on Biweekly and Semi-Monthly Payroll: The Workweek RuleOvertime is owed per 7-day workweek, not per pay period. How to calculate it on biweekly and semi-monthly payroll, with worked examples and the payment-timing rule.
Not legal advice. This article is for informational purposes only. Compliance obligations depend on employer-specific facts, collective bargaining agreements, and applicable jurisdictions. Consult qualified counsel before acting on any information here.