Minimum Wage by State 2026: All 50 States + Upcoming Increases

Minimum wage laws determine the floor for worker pay across the United States, but the actual rate varies dramatically by state. Here’s the complete 2026 picture — and what it means for your annual earnings.

Federal Minimum Wage: The Baseline

The federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour has been unchanged since July 24, 2009 — making it the longest period without an increase in US history. When adjusted for inflation, today’s federal minimum has less purchasing power than it did in the 1960s.

However, the federal rate is just the floor. Any state or locality can set a higher rate, and the higher rate always governs.

2026 Minimum Wage by State: Complete Table

State	Minimum Wage	Tipped Min.	Annual ($7.25=base)	Annual Equivalent
Alabama	$7.25 (federal)	$2.13	$15,080	$15,080
Alaska	$11.91	$11.91	—	$24,773
Arizona	$14.70	$11.70	—	$30,576
Arkansas	$11.00	$2.63	—	$22,880
California	$16.50	$16.50	—	$34,320
Colorado	$14.81	$11.79	—	$30,805
Connecticut	$16.35	$8.23	—	$34,008
Delaware	$15.00	$2.23	—	$31,200
Florida	$13.00	$9.98	—	$27,040
Georgia	$7.25 (federal)	$2.13	—	$15,080
Hawaii	$14.00	$12.75	—	$29,120
Idaho	$7.25 (federal)	$3.35	—	$15,080
Illinois	$15.00	$9.00	—	$31,200
Indiana	$7.25 (federal)	$2.13	—	$15,080
Iowa	$7.25 (federal)	$4.35	—	$15,080
Kansas	$7.25 (federal)	$2.13	—	$15,080
Kentucky	$7.25 (federal)	$2.13	—	$15,080
Louisiana	$7.25 (federal)	$2.13	—	$15,080
Maine	$14.65	$7.33	—	$30,472
Maryland	$15.00	$3.63	—	$31,200
Massachusetts	$15.00	$7.95	—	$31,200
Michigan	$10.56	$4.01	—	$21,965
Minnesota	$10.85	$10.85	—	$22,568
Mississippi	$7.25 (federal)	$2.13	—	$15,080
Missouri	$13.75	$6.88	—	$28,600
Montana	$10.55	$10.55	—	$21,944
Nebraska	$13.50	$2.13	—	$28,080
Nevada	$12.00	$12.00	—	$24,960
New Hampshire	$7.25 (federal)	$3.63	—	$15,080
New Jersey	$15.49	$5.63	—	$32,219
New Mexico	$12.00	$3.00	—	$24,960
New York	$16.00	$10.65	—	$33,280
North Carolina	$7.25 (federal)	$2.13	—	$15,080
North Dakota	$7.25 (federal)	$4.86	—	$15,080
Ohio	$10.70	$5.35	—	$22,256
Oklahoma	$7.25 (federal)	$2.13	—	$15,080
Oregon	$14.70	$14.70	—	$30,576
Pennsylvania	$7.25 (federal)	$2.83	—	$15,080
Rhode Island	$15.00	$3.89	—	$31,200
South Carolina	$7.25 (federal)	$2.13	—	$15,080
South Dakota	$11.50	$5.75	—	$23,920
Tennessee	$7.25 (federal)	$2.13	—	$15,080
Texas	$7.25 (federal)	$2.13	—	$15,080
Utah	$7.25 (federal)	$2.13	—	$15,080
Vermont	$14.01	$7.01	—	$29,141
Virginia	$12.41	$2.13	—	$25,813
Washington	$16.66	$16.66	—	$34,653
West Virginia	$8.75	$2.62	—	$18,200
Wisconsin	$7.25 (federal)	$2.33	—	$15,080
Wyoming	$7.25 (federal)	$2.13	—	$15,080
Washington, D.C.	$17.50	$10.00	—	$36,400

Rates effective January 1, 2026. Some rates are indexed to inflation and may increase mid-year.

States Scheduled for Increases in 2026

Several states have automatic cost-of-living adjustments or phased-in increases:

State	Current Rate	Scheduled Increase	When
California	$16.50	$17.00	Jan 1, 2026 (already in effect)
Illinois	$15.00	$15.00 (reached goal)	—
New Jersey	$15.49	Indexed to CPI	Jan 2027
New York City	$16.50	$16.50	—
Washington	$16.66	CPI-indexed	Jan 2027

Tipped Worker Rules

Federal law allows a “tip credit” — employers can pay as little as $2.13/hour to tipped workers, as long as tips bring total hourly earnings to at least $7.25. If tips fall short in any hour, the employer must make up the difference.

States that require full minimum wage regardless of tips:

• Alaska, California, Minnesota, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Washington

States with lower tipped minimums use the federal $2.13 or a state-set amount. Restaurant workers, hotel staff, and delivery drivers are most commonly affected.

Converting Minimum Wage to Annual Salary

To convert any hourly minimum wage to annual earnings, use: Annual = Hourly × 40 hours × 52 weeks = Hourly × 2,080

Hourly Rate	Annual (Full-Time)	Monthly Gross
$7.25	$15,080	$1,257
$10.00	$20,800	$1,733
$12.00	$24,960	$2,080
$15.00	$31,200	$2,600
$16.50	$34,320	$2,860
$17.50	$36,400	$3,033

Use the hourly to salary calculator for your location and the paycheck calculator to see after-tax take-home for minimum wage workers in your state.

Living Wage vs. Minimum Wage

The minimum wage and a living wage are not the same. MIT’s Living Wage Calculator estimates that a living wage for a single adult ranges from about $17–$35/hour depending on the state, accounting for housing, food, healthcare, and transportation.

At $7.25/hour ($15,080/year), a full-time worker earns below the federal poverty line for a family of two. Even at $15/hour ($31,200), housing affordability remains a serious challenge in most metro areas.