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Minimum wage by state, 2026
The current statewide hourly minimum for adult, non-tipped workers in each state, compared with what the same state required in 2016 and 2024. Many cities and counties set higher local minimums that are not shown here.
Data vintage: State rates in effect as of October 2026 (DOL table of July 1, 2026, plus Florida's Sep 30, 2026 increase); history from DOL's 1968–2024 table. Last checked 2026-10-27 by The CompareTheData team.
Data: U.S. Department of Labor. Jump to sources · Methodology
Key takeaways
- Among states, Washington has the highest minimum wage at $17.13 an hour, followed by Connecticut ($16.94) and California ($16.90). D.C. is higher still at $18.40.
- California's statewide minimum is $16.90; Washington's is $17.13.
- 20 states have no minimum above the federal $7.25: Alabama, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Hampshire, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Wisconsin, Wyoming.
- 19 jurisdictions now require $15.00 or more, including Florida after its Sep 30, 2026 step.
- The federal minimum has been $7.25 since July 2009. The median of the 51 statewide rates is now $11.85.
Minimum wage by state chart (2026)
State minimum wage rates 2026, ranked
Click a column heading to sort. Rates are the general statewide minimum; some states set lower rates for small employers. Download this table (CSV).
| Rank | State | 2026 rate | 2024 rate | 2016 rate | Change since 2016 | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | $18.40 | $17.50 | $11.50 | +$6.90 | State law |
| 2 | Washington | $17.13 | $16.28 | $9.47 | +$7.66 | State law |
| 3 | Connecticut | $16.94 | $15.69 | $9.60 | +$7.34 | State law |
| 4 | California | $16.90 | $16.00 | $10.00 | +$6.90 | State law |
| 5 | Hawaii | $16.00 | $14.00 | $8.50 | +$7.50 | State law |
| 6 | New York | $16.00 | $15.00 | $9.00 | +$7.00 | State law |
| 7 | Rhode Island | $16.00 | $14.00 | $9.60 | +$6.40 | State law |
| 8 | New Jersey | $15.92 | $15.13 | $8.38 | +$7.54 | State law |
| 9 | Oregon | $15.55 | $14.70 | $9.75 | +$5.80 | State law |
| 10 | Colorado | $15.16 | $14.42 | $8.31 | +$6.85 | State law |
| 11 | Arizona | $15.15 | $14.35 | $8.05 | +$7.10 | State law |
| 12 | Maine | $15.10 | $14.15 | $7.50 | +$7.60 | State law |
| 13 | Delaware | $15.00 | $13.25 | $8.25 | +$6.75 | State law |
| 14 | Florida | $15.00 | $12.00 | $8.05 | +$6.95 | State law |
| 15 | Illinois | $15.00 | $14.00 | $8.25 | +$6.75 | State law |
| 16 | Maryland | $15.00 | $15.00 | $8.75 | +$6.25 | State law |
| 17 | Massachusetts | $15.00 | $15.00 | $10.00 | +$5.00 | State law |
| 18 | Missouri | $15.00 | $12.30 | $7.65 | +$7.35 | State law |
| 19 | Nebraska | $15.00 | $12.00 | $9.00 | +$6.00 | State law |
| 20 | Vermont | $14.42 | $13.67 | $9.60 | +$4.82 | State law |
| 21 | Alaska | $14.00 | $11.73 | $9.75 | +$4.25 | State law |
| 22 | Michigan | $13.73 | $10.33 | $8.50 | +$5.23 | State law |
| 23 | Virginia | $12.77 | $12.00 | $7.25 | +$5.52 | State law |
| 24 | Nevada | $12.00 | $12.00 | $7.25 | +$4.75 | State law |
| 25 | New Mexico | $12.00 | $12.00 | $7.50 | +$4.50 | State law |
| 26 | South Dakota | $11.85 | $11.20 | $8.55 | +$3.30 | State law |
| 27 | Minnesota | $11.41 | $10.85 | $7.25 | +$4.16 | State law |
| 28 | Arkansas | $11.00 | $11.00 | $8.00 | +$3.00 | State law |
| 29 | Ohio | $11.00 | $10.45 | $7.25 | +$3.75 | State law |
| 30 | Montana | $10.85 | $10.30 | $8.05 | +$2.80 | State law |
| 31 | West Virginia | $8.75 | $8.75 | $8.75 | +$0.00 | State law |
| 32 | Alabama | $7.25 | $7.25 | $7.25 | +$0.00 | Federal $7.25 |
| 33 | Georgia | $7.25 | $5.15 | $5.15 | +$2.10 | Federal $7.25 |
| 34 | Idaho | $7.25 | $7.25 | $7.25 | +$0.00 | State law |
| 35 | Indiana | $7.25 | $7.25 | $7.25 | +$0.00 | State law |
| 36 | Iowa | $7.25 | $7.25 | $7.25 | +$0.00 | State law |
| 37 | Kansas | $7.25 | $7.25 | $7.25 | +$0.00 | State law |
| 38 | Kentucky | $7.25 | $7.25 | $7.25 | +$0.00 | State law |
| 39 | Louisiana | $7.25 | $7.25 | $7.25 | +$0.00 | Federal $7.25 |
| 40 | Mississippi | $7.25 | $7.25 | $7.25 | +$0.00 | Federal $7.25 |
| 41 | New Hampshire | $7.25 | $7.25 | $7.25 | +$0.00 | State law |
| 42 | North Carolina | $7.25 | $7.25 | $7.25 | +$0.00 | State law |
| 43 | North Dakota | $7.25 | $7.25 | $7.25 | +$0.00 | State law |
| 44 | Oklahoma | $7.25 | $2.00 | $2.00 | +$5.25 | State law |
| 45 | Pennsylvania | $7.25 | $7.25 | $7.25 | +$0.00 | State law |
| 46 | South Carolina | $7.25 | $7.25 | $7.25 | +$0.00 | Federal $7.25 |
| 47 | Tennessee | $7.25 | $7.25 | $7.25 | +$0.00 | Federal $7.25 |
| 48 | Texas | $7.25 | $7.25 | $7.25 | +$0.00 | State law |
| 49 | Utah | $7.25 | $7.25 | $7.25 | +$0.00 | State law |
| 50 | Wisconsin | $7.25 | $7.25 | $7.25 | +$0.00 | State law |
| 51 | Wyoming | $7.25 | $5.15 | $5.15 | +$2.10 | Federal $7.25 |
What changed since 2016
Over ten years, 33 jurisdictions raised their minimum wage and 18 did not. The biggest increases were in Washington (+$7.66), Maine (+$7.60), New Jersey (+$7.54) and Hawaii (+$7.50). In 2016 the highest state rate was $11.50; today 19 jurisdictions are at $15 or more.
How to read these numbers
- Several states index their minimum to inflation and change it each January; check the state labor department before relying on a rate.
- Where a state has tiers (by employer size or benefits), the table shows the general or highest standard rate in the DOL summary.
- Tipped minimums, youth and training wages, and city or county minimums (for example in Seattle, Denver or many California cities) are not included.
- 2016 and 2024 values come from DOL's historical table, which lists the rate in effect on January 1 or the year's main rate.
Common questions
What is the minimum wage in California in 2026?
$16.90 an hour statewide. Some California cities set higher local rates, and certain industries (such as fast food and health care) have separate minimums.
Which state has the highest minimum wage?
Washington, at $17.13 an hour. The District of Columbia, which is not a state, is higher at $18.40.
Which states have a $15 minimum wage?
19 jurisdictions are at $15 or more: District of Columbia, Washington, Connecticut, California, Hawaii, New York, Rhode Island, New Jersey, Oregon, Colorado, Arizona, Maine, Delaware, Florida, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Missouri, Nebraska.
Which states use the federal minimum wage of $7.25?
Alabama, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Hampshire, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Wisconsin, Wyoming. Some of these have no state minimum at all; others set $7.25 or less in state law, so the federal rate applies to covered employers.
What is the minimum wage in Florida?
$15.00 an hour since September 30, 2026, the final step of the increases approved by voters in 2020.
Sources
Figures computed by CompareTheData.com from the official files below; the raw downloads are archived with the build. Where D.C. is included it is ranked alongside the states.
- U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division, State Minimum Wage Laws. table dated July 1, 2026, checked Oct 27, 2026.
- U.S. Department of Labor, Changes in Basic Minimum Wages in Non-Farm Employment Under State Law, 1968–2024. checked Oct 27, 2026.
- FloridaCommerce, Florida Minimum Wage. $15.00 effective Sep 30, 2026.
- D.C. Department of Employment Services, wage-hour compliance. $18.40 effective July 1, 2026.