State Minimum Wage Rates 2026
The federal minimum wage is $7.25 per hour, unchanged since 2009. Thirty-one states and Washington DC have set higher minimum wages, ranging from $7.25 to $18.40 in Washington DC. When a state or local minimum wage exceeds the federal rate, employers must pay the higher amount. Many states index their minimum wage to inflation, adjusting automatically each January 1. Some jurisdictions distinguish between large and small employers or have special rules for tipped workers (who may earn a lower base wage if tips bring earnings to the minimum). This reference tool displays the complete current minimum wage for all 50 states and DC, sourced from the US Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division, with the effective date each rate was last verified. A simple calculator shows whether a given hourly rate meets your state's minimum wage requirement. Note: local city and county rates may exceed the state rate in some jurisdictions.
Does my pay meet minimum wage?
Minimum wage by state, 2026 (sorted highest to lowest)
| State | Minimum wage | Tipped cash wage | Notes | As of |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $18.40 | $10.30 | Indexed to inflation each year | 2026-07-01 |
| Washington | $17.13 | full wage | Indexed to inflation each year | 2026-01-01 |
| New York | $17.00 | $11.35 | Indexed to inflation each year | 2026-01-01 |
| Connecticut | $16.94 | $6.38 | Indexed to inflation each year | 2026-01-01 |
| California | $16.90 | full wage | Indexed to inflation each year | 2026-01-01 |
| Hawaii | $16.00 | $14.75 | Set by statute | 2026-01-01 |
| Rhode Island | $16.00 | $3.89 | Set by statute | 2026-01-01 |
| New Jersey | $15.92 | $6.05 | Indexed to inflation each year | 2026-01-01 |
| Oregon | $15.55 | full wage | Indexed to inflation each year | 2026-07-01 |
| Colorado | $15.16 | $12.14 | Indexed to inflation each year | 2026-01-01 |
| Arizona | $15.15 | $12.15 | Indexed to inflation each year | 2026-01-01 |
| Maine | $15.10 | $7.55 | Indexed to inflation each year | 2026-01-01 |
| Delaware | $15.00 | $2.23 | Set by statute | 2025-01-01 |
| Illinois | $15.00 | $9.00 | Set by statute | 2025-01-01 |
| Maryland | $15.00 | $3.63 | Set by statute | 2024-01-01 |
| Massachusetts | $15.00 | $6.75 | Set by statute | 2023-01-01 |
| Missouri | $15.00 | $7.50 | Set by statute | 2026-01-01 |
| Nebraska | $15.00 | $2.13 | Indexed to inflation each year | 2026-01-01 |
| Vermont | $14.42 | $7.21 | Indexed to inflation each year | 2026-01-01 |
| Alaska | $14.00 | full wage | Set by statute | 2026-07-01 |
| Florida | $14.00 | $10.98 | Indexed to inflation each year | 2025-09-30 |
| Michigan | $13.73 | $5.49 | Set by statute | 2026-01-01 |
| Virginia | $12.77 | $2.13 | Indexed to inflation each year | 2026-01-01 |
| Nevada | $12.00 | full wage | Set by statute | 2024-07-01 |
| New Mexico | $12.00 | $3.00 | Set by statute | 2023-01-01 |
| South Dakota | $11.85 | $5.93 | Indexed to inflation each year | 2026-01-01 |
| Minnesota | $11.41 | full wage | Indexed to inflation each year | 2026-01-01 |
| Arkansas | $11.00 | $2.63 | Set by statute | 2021-01-01 |
| Ohio | $11.00 | $5.50 | Indexed to inflation each year | 2026-01-01 |
| Montana | $10.85 | full wage | Indexed to inflation each year | 2026-01-01 |
| West Virginia | $8.75 | $2.62 | Set by statute | 2016-01-01 |
| Alabama | $7.25 | $2.13 | No state minimum wage law; federal applies | 2009-07-24 |
| Georgia | $7.25 | $2.13 | State rate 5.15; federal $7.25 applies | 2009-07-24 |
| Idaho | $7.25 | $3.35 | Set by statute | 2009-07-24 |
| Indiana | $7.25 | $2.13 | Set by statute | 2009-07-24 |
| Iowa | $7.25 | $4.35 | Set by statute | 2008-01-01 |
| Kansas | $7.25 | $2.13 | Set by statute | 2010-01-01 |
| Kentucky | $7.25 | $2.13 | Set by statute | 2009-07-01 |
| Louisiana | $7.25 | $2.13 | No state minimum wage law; federal applies | 2009-07-24 |
| Mississippi | $7.25 | $2.13 | No state minimum wage law; federal applies | 2009-07-24 |
| New Hampshire | $7.25 | $3.27 | Set by statute | 2009-07-24 |
| North Carolina | $7.25 | $2.13 | Set by statute | 2009-07-24 |
| North Dakota | $7.25 | $4.86 | Set by statute | 2009-07-24 |
| Oklahoma | $7.25 | $2.13 | Set by statute | 2000-07-24 |
| Pennsylvania | $7.25 | $2.83 | Set by statute | 2009-07-24 |
| South Carolina | $7.25 | $2.13 | No state minimum wage law; federal applies | 2009-07-24 |
| Tennessee | $7.25 | $2.13 | No state minimum wage law; federal applies | 2009-07-24 |
| Texas | $7.25 | $2.13 | Set by statute | 2009-07-24 |
| Utah | $7.25 | $2.13 | Set by statute | 2009-07-24 |
| Wisconsin | $7.25 | $2.33 | Set by statute | 2009-07-24 |
| Wyoming | $7.25 | $2.13 | State rate 5.15; federal $7.25 applies | 2009-07-24 |
Data sourced from US Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division. Last verified June 2026. Rates change frequently; verify current rates at dol.gov/agencies/whd/minimum-wage/state.
How US minimum wage law works
The federal minimum wage is established by the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), enacted in 1938 and administered by the US Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division. The current federal rate of $7.25 per hour has been in place since July 24, 2009, making it the longest period without a federal increase in the history of the FLSA.
States have the authority to set minimum wages above the federal rate. When a state rate is higher, all employers in that state must pay the state rate to covered employees. When a state rate is lower than the federal rate (currently only Georgia at $5.15 and Wyoming at $5.15), the federal $7.25 applies to the vast majority of workers covered by the FLSA.
Local governments in many states can also set their own minimum wages. For example, Portland, Oregon has a higher rate than the Oregon state minimum, and Seattle, Washington sets rates above the state minimum. Always check applicable city and county ordinances for the full picture.
Tipped employee rules
The FLSA allows employers to pay tipped employees a cash wage of as little as $2.13 per hour, with tips counting toward the $7.25 minimum wage floor. If tips do not bring total hourly compensation to $7.25, the employer must pay the difference. Many states set higher tipped minimum wages or prohibit the tip credit entirely; check your state's Department of Labor for the applicable rule.
What the state rate does not tell you
The single most common mistake with minimum wage is reading the state figure in this table as the rate a worker is actually owed. Federal law sets a floor of $7.25 per hour, but employees are entitled to the highest of the federal, state, or local rate that applies to them. A cashier in Denver, Colorado is covered by a citywide minimum well above the statewide number, and the same gap exists in Seattle, New York City, and Flagstaff. The statewide rate here is the starting point, not the finish line.
Two states, Georgia and Wyoming, still carry a statutory minimum of $5.15 on their books, yet almost every worker there earns at least $7.25 because federal coverage under the Fair Labor Standards Act overrides the lower state number. Tipped pay is the other trap. The federal cash wage can be as low as $2.13, but seven states, including California, Washington, and Oregon, ban the tip credit outright and require the full minimum before tips. In those states a $2.13 base is simply illegal.
Timing matters too: many indexed states raise their rate every January 1 by the prior year's inflation, so a figure that was correct in December can be stale by New Year's Day. Always confirm the current number, plus any city or county ordinance, with your state labor department before relying on it.
Minimum wage: frequently asked questions
What is the federal minimum wage?
The federal minimum wage is $7.25 per hour, set under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) of 1938. It has not increased since July 24, 2009. When a state or local minimum wage exceeds the federal rate, employers must pay the higher rate. The federal minimum applies in states without a higher state rate.
Can states set their own minimum wage higher than the federal rate?
Yes. States, and in many cases cities and counties, may set their own minimum wage above the federal rate. Employers must always pay the highest applicable rate (federal, state, or local). Currently 31 states and DC have minimum wages above the federal $7.25.
What about tipped workers?
Under the FLSA, employers may pay tipped employees a cash wage of $2.13 per hour, using tips to make up the difference to $7.25. If tips do not bring total hourly earnings to $7.25, the employer must make up the difference. Many states require higher cash wages for tipped workers or do not allow a tip credit at all; check your state's Department of Labor for the applicable tipped minimum.
When does the federal rate apply versus the state rate?
Employees are entitled to the higher of the applicable federal, state, or local minimum wage. In states where the state rate equals or exceeds $7.25, the state rate sets the floor. In states where the state rate is below $7.25 (Georgia and Wyoming set $5.15), the federal $7.25 applies to most workers covered by the FLSA.
How often do minimum wage rates change?
Many states with inflation-indexed minimum wages adjust automatically each January 1 based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI). Others increase by statute on scheduled dates. Some states (such as California and New York) have multi-year phase-in schedules. Check the Department of Labor website and your state's Department of Labor for the most current effective date.
Do small businesses have different minimum wage requirements?
Some states distinguish between large and small employers. Minnesota, for example, has a lower rate for businesses with annual gross revenues below $500,000. Ohio has a lower rate for employers with gross annual receipts under $394,000. Federal FLSA coverage depends on whether the employer meets the enterprise coverage threshold ($500,000 in annual dollar volume of business) or whether individual employees are engaged in interstate commerce.
Official sources
- State minimum wage data: US Department of Labor, State Minimum Wage Laws.
- Federal FLSA overview: US Department of Labor, Fair Labor Standards Act.
Reviewed by the CalculatorHub team, edited by James Graham, 11 July 2026. See our methodology. General information only, not legal advice. Rates change frequently; always verify with the DOL and your state's department of labor.