Minimum wage by state, 2026
Minimum wage in the United States is a stack, not a single number. The federal floor applies everywhere it is not beaten, states may set a higher one, and cities and counties may set a higher one still. The rate that legally binds you is the highest of those three that covers your workplace.
States at the top of the range
| State | Statewide 2026 | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Washington | $17.13 | Indexed to inflation yearly |
| District of Columbia | $17.95 | Not a state, highest in country |
| New York | $17.00 | NYC, Long Island and Westchester only |
| California | $16.90 | Many cities higher by ordinance |
| Connecticut | $16.35 | Indexed from 2024 |
| Oregon | $16.35 | Portland metro; $15.05 rural |
| Hawaii | $16.00 | Stepped from $14.00 |
| Colorado | $15.15 | Denver higher |
| Maine | $15.15 | Indexed |
| Arizona | $15.15 | Indexed |
| Illinois | $15.00 | Chicago higher |
| Maryland | $15.00 | Reached target |
| Massachusetts | $15.00 | Flat since 2023 |
| New Jersey | $15.49 | Indexed |
| Rhode Island | $15.00 | Flat since 2025 |
| Delaware | $15.00 | Reached target |
| Florida | $15.00 | Reached target in late 2026 |
Where the floor is still $7.25
Twenty states have no higher state rate, so the federal floor applies: 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.
How to check yours in thirty seconds
- Look up your state labour department, not a listicle. State agencies post the rate with an effective date.
- Check your city and county next. Many metros are well above their state.
- Confirm which one covers your actual work location, not your employer's headquarters.
Rates change on the first of January in most states, and on the first of July or September in a handful. Verify again after any New Year payroll run.
Our takeIf your state sits at the federal floor, the city you work in is the only number worth checking. Twenty states have left the decision to Washington and then watched their metros fix it locally.