Minimum wages in the United States vary dramatically by state. As of 2026:
- Federal minimum: $7.25/hour — unchanged since July 2009 (longest stretch in US history)
- Highest: Washington, D.C. at $17.95/hour, then Washington State at $17.13/hour
- Lowest state (with state law): Georgia and Wyoming at $5.15/hour (federal $7.25 applies for FLSA-covered employers)
- States at $15+: 18 states plus DC
- States still at federal $7.25: 20 states
- States with 2026 increases: 21 states had Jan 1, 2026 increases; 4 more scheduled mid-year (Alaska, Florida, DC, Oregon)
A full-time worker earning the federal $7.25 minimum makes just $15,080 per year before taxes — well below the Bureau of Labor Statistics' reported average household spending of $72,967 (2022).
Interactive 2026 Minimum Wage Map
Real geographic map of all 50 states + DC with each state's 2026 minimum wage printed inside (or as a callout for small Northeast states). Each state and callout is fully clickable — tap to view that state's detailed 2026 tax brackets, deductions, and take-home pay calculator. Color reflects each state's position on a continuous low-to-high gradient (legend at the bottom of the map). Alaska and Hawaii are shown in their standard Albers USA inset positions (lower-left).
Real geographic map of 2026 US minimum wages. Every state and DC is colored on a continuous gradient from lowest ($5.15) to highest ($17.95). The rate is printed inside each state where space allows; small Northeast states are shown as callouts to the right with leader lines. Tap any state or callout to view its detailed 2026 tax brackets, deductions, and take-home pay calculator. Data: U.S. Department of Labor, effective Jan 1, 2026. Map geometry: us-atlas (ISC license).
The Federal Minimum Wage: $7.25 Since 2009
The federal minimum wage is $7.25 per hour and has not changed since July 24, 2009. As of 2026, this marks the longest stretch in the law's history without an update. The federal floor was first established under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) of 1938 at $0.25 per hour. Congress has approved 22 increases since then, typically every three to seven years.
The federal minimum applies automatically to most employers covered by the FLSA. There are two main coverage tests:
- Enterprise coverage: businesses with $500,000 or more in annual gross sales engaged in interstate commerce
- Individual coverage: employees whose duties involve interstate activity (handling out-of-state transactions, electronic payments, communications across state lines)
Together these tests capture the majority of US workers. State minimum wage laws apply only when they exceed the federal rate. The federal tipped minimum wage remains $2.13 per hour — also unchanged since 1991 — with the requirement that employer cash wage plus tips must equal at least the full $7.25 hourly minimum.
What $7.25 Actually Earns You
A full-time worker (40 hours × 52 weeks) earning the federal minimum makes $15,080 gross per year. After Social Security, Medicare, and federal income tax (assuming standard deduction, single filer), take-home is roughly $13,800–$14,200. The Bureau of Labor Statistics' 2022 Consumer Expenditures Report measured average annual household spending at $72,967 — nearly five times what a single federal-minimum earner brings in.
Complete 2026 Minimum Wage Table — All 50 States + DC
Every state and DC minimum wage rate as of January 1, 2026, sourced directly from the U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division. Click any state name to view detailed 2026 tax brackets, deductions, and a take-home pay calculator.
| State | 2026 Rate | Notes / Coverage |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $7.25 | No state law; federal $7.25 applies (FLSA) |
| Alaska | $13.00 | Rising to $14.00 on July 1, 2026 |
| Arizona | $15.15 | Inflation-adjusted annually |
| Arkansas | $11.00 | Employers with 4+ employees |
| California | $16.90 | Adjusted annually by formula |
| Colorado | $15.16 | Local ordinances may override |
| Connecticut | $16.94 | Among highest in nation |
| Delaware | $15.00 | — |
| District of Columbia | $17.95 | Highest in nation; adjusts July 1 annually |
| Florida | $14.00 | Rising to $15.00 on Sept 30, 2026 |
| Georgia | $5.15 / $7.25 | State rate $5.15; federal $7.25 applies to FLSA-covered employers |
| Hawaii | $16.00 | — |
| Idaho | $7.25 | Federal floor |
| Illinois | $15.00 | Employers with 4+ employees |
| Indiana | $7.25 | Employers with 2+ employees |
| Iowa | $7.25 | State rate equals federal when federal is higher |
| Kansas | $7.25 | FLSA-covered employment uses federal |
| Kentucky | $7.25 | State rate equals federal when federal is higher |
| Louisiana | $7.25 | No state law; federal applies |
| Maine | $15.10 | Adjusted annually by formula |
| Maryland | $15.00 | — |
| Massachusetts | $15.00 | Must stay ≥$0.50 above federal |
| Michigan | $13.73 | Rising to $15.00 on Jan 1, 2027 |
| Minnesota | $11.41 | Adjusted annually by formula |
| Mississippi | $7.25 | No state law; federal applies |
| Missouri | $15.00 | — |
| Montana | $10.85 / $4.00 | $4.00 for businesses with <$110K gross sales |
| Nebraska | $15.00 | Employers with 4+ employees; 1.75% annual increase begins 2027 |
| Nevada | $12.00 | — |
| New Hampshire | $7.25 | Federal floor |
| New Jersey | $15.92 | $15.23 for <6 employees / seasonal |
| New Mexico | $12.00 | — |
| New York | $17.00 / $16.00 | NYC, Nassau, Suffolk, Westchester $17; rest of state $16 |
| North Carolina | $7.25 | Federal floor |
| North Dakota | $7.25 | Federal floor |
| Ohio | $11.00 / $7.25 | $11.00 for employers ≥$405K gross; $7.25 below threshold |
| Oklahoma | $7.25 / $2.00 | $7.25 for employers with 10+ employees or ≥$100K gross; $2.00 below |
| Oregon | $15.05 / $16.30 / $14.05 | Standard / Portland Metro / Non-Urban; July 1 annual adjustment |
| Pennsylvania | $7.25 | Federal floor |
| Rhode Island | $16.00 | Rising to $17.00 on Jan 1, 2027 |
| South Carolina | $7.25 | No state law; federal applies |
| South Dakota | $11.85 | Adjusted annually by formula |
| Tennessee | $7.25 | No state law; federal applies |
| Texas | $7.25 | State adopts federal by reference |
| Utah | $7.25 | FLSA-covered employment uses federal |
| Vermont | $14.42 | Employers with 2+ employees; adjusted annually |
| Virginia | $12.77 | Adjusted annually by formula |
| Washington | $17.13 | Highest state rate; adjusted annually |
| West Virginia | $8.75 | Employers with 6+ employees at one location |
| Wisconsin | $7.25 | Federal floor |
| Wyoming | $5.15 / $7.25 | State rate $5.15; federal $7.25 applies to FLSA-covered employers |
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division, effective January 1, 2026. Some states have separate rates for tipped employees, employers below revenue thresholds, or specific industries — see the state's labor department for full details.
2026 Scheduled Mid-Year Increases
Four jurisdictions have minimum wage increases scheduled to take effect later in 2026. If you're reading this guide after June 30, verify these rates have updated:
| Jurisdiction | Current Rate | New Rate | Effective Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | $13.00 | $14.00 | July 1, 2026 |
| District of Columbia | $17.95 | Formula-adjusted | July 1, 2026 |
| Oregon | $15.05 / $16.30 / $14.05 | Formula-adjusted | July 1, 2026 |
| Florida | $14.00 | $15.00 | September 30, 2026 |
DC and Oregon adjust annually on July 1 based on inflation-indexed formulas, so their exact new rates will be announced by their respective labor departments in mid-2026. Florida's increase is the final step in a 2020 voter-approved phased schedule that brought the state from $8.56 (2020) to $15.00 by 2026.
21 States Had January 1, 2026 Increases
Twenty-one states implemented minimum wage increases on January 1, 2026 — either through ballot-initiative phase-ins, legislative schedules, or annual inflation indexing. The biggest 2026 jumps came from states completing multi-year phase-ins (Missouri to $15.00, Nebraska to $15.00) or with high inflation indexing (DC, California, Washington). Twenty states made no change because their statutory rates didn't trigger an update and they remain at the federal $7.25 floor.
Where Each State Ranks: Top and Bottom
The 10 Highest Minimum Wages in 2026
| Rank | Jurisdiction | 2026 Rate | Annual Full-Time Gross |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | $17.95 | $37,336 |
| 2 | Washington | $17.13 | $35,630 |
| 3 | New York (NYC area) | $17.00 | $35,360 |
| 4 | Connecticut | $16.94 | $35,235 |
| 5 | California | $16.90 | $35,152 |
| 6 | Oregon (Portland Metro) | $16.30 | $33,904 |
| 7 | Hawaii | $16.00 | $33,280 |
| 7 | Rhode Island | $16.00 | $33,280 |
| 9 | New Jersey | $15.92 | $33,114 |
| 10 | Colorado | $15.16 | $31,533 |
The 20 States Still at $7.25 Federal Floor
Twenty states have minimum wages at the federal $7.25 floor — five have no state law at all (Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Tennessee) and default to FLSA. The other fifteen have statutes set at or below the federal rate, which means federal supersedes for covered employers:
Alabama · Georgia · Idaho · Indiana · Iowa · Kansas · Kentucky · Louisiana · Mississippi · New Hampshire · North Carolina · North Dakota · Oklahoma · Pennsylvania · South Carolina · Tennessee · Texas · Utah · Wisconsin · Wyoming
At $7.25 × 40 hours × 52 weeks = $15,080 annual gross. A worker would need to put in 60 hours per week year-round to earn $22,620 — still below the 2024 federal poverty threshold for a household of three.
Where Local Ordinances Beat the State Rate
State minimums are the floor, not the ceiling. At least 49 cities and counties implemented minimum wage increases in 2026 above their state rate. The single highest local minimum wage in the country is in Tukwila, Washington — $21.65 per hour. Other high-rate localities include:
- Tukwila, WA: $21.65/hour (all covered employers)
- Burien, WA: $21.63/hour (large employers)
- Renton, WA: $21.57/hour (large employers; midsize reaching same rate mid-year)
- Seattle, WA: $21.30/hour (all employers, annual inflation adjustment)
- SeaTac, WA: $20.17/hour (hospitality/transportation industry)
- Mountain View, CA: $19.20/hour
- West Hollywood, CA: $19.65/hour
- Emeryville, CA: $19.36/hour
State-Specific Tax & Take-Home Pay Calculators
Each state has its own income tax structure that further affects what a minimum-wage worker actually takes home. Tap any state below to see its 2026 tax brackets, deductions, and a calculator that converts gross wages to take-home pay.
Compare Real Salary Levels Across 75 Cities
Minimum wage tells you the legal floor. To understand what salaries actually look like — what $50,000 buys in San Francisco vs Mississippi, or whether a $100,000 job in NYC equates to $65,000 in Houston after cost of living — use FinCalcs' city-by-salary breakdowns. Each combination covers all relevant taxes, cost of living, and discretionary income.
Browse by salary level:
- $40K salary breakdowns across 75 cities — entry-level / early career
- $50K salary breakdowns — median range for many US cities
- $60K salary breakdowns — solid middle income
- $75K salary breakdowns — upper-middle entry point
- $100K salary breakdowns — six-figure threshold
- $125K salary breakdowns — senior professional range
- $150K salary breakdowns — executive / specialist tier
- $200K salary breakdowns — top decile of US household income
Or browse the complete salary-by-city hub covering 600+ combinations.
Frequently Asked Questions
The federal minimum wage remains $7.25 per hour in 2026, unchanged since July 24, 2009. This is the longest stretch in the law's history without an update. The federal tipped minimum wage remains $2.13 per hour.
Washington, D.C. has the highest at $17.95/hour. Among states, Washington leads at $17.13/hour, followed by New York City at $17.00/hour and Connecticut at $16.94/hour. Locally, Tukwila, Washington has the highest local minimum wage in the country at $21.65/hour.
Eighteen states plus Washington, D.C. have minimum wages at $15.00/hour or higher in 2026: Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, DC, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Missouri, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York (in higher-rate counties), Oregon (Portland Metro), Rhode Island, Washington, and Vermont approaches at $14.42.
Twenty states still use the $7.25 federal minimum wage: 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. Five of these states (Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Tennessee) have no state minimum wage law at all and default to federal.
Four jurisdictions have scheduled mid-year 2026 increases: Alaska rises to $14.00 on July 1, 2026; Florida rises to $15.00 on September 30, 2026; DC adjusts on July 1, 2026 (annual formula-based); and Oregon adjusts on July 1, 2026 (annual formula-based for all three regions: standard, Portland Metro, and non-urban).
The federal tipped minimum wage is $2.13 per hour, unchanged since 1991. Employers must ensure tipped employees' combined cash wage plus tips equals at least the full $7.25 federal minimum wage. If tips fall short, the employer must make up the difference. Many states require higher tipped wages, and some (California, Minnesota, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, Alaska) prohibit a tip credit entirely.
At the federal $7.25/hour, full-time work (40 hours × 52 weeks) earns $15,080 gross per year. At Washington's $17.13/hour, that rises to $35,630. At DC's $17.95/hour, it's $37,336. The Bureau of Labor Statistics' Consumer Expenditures Report shows average annual household spending was $72,967 in 2022 — well above what any minimum-wage worker earns at federal rates.
Federal minimum wage increases require Congress to pass legislation and the President to sign it. Since 1938, Congress has approved 22 increases, typically every 3-7 years to offset rising cost of living. The current $7.25 rate took effect July 24, 2009, making 2026 the longest stretch in the law's history without an update. Multiple legislative proposals have been introduced but none has passed both chambers since 2007.
Yes. Many cities set local minimum wages above their state rate. The highest in the country is Tukwila, Washington at $21.65/hour. Other notable local rates exceed $20: Burien WA ($21.63), Renton WA ($21.57), Seattle WA ($21.30). At least 49 cities and counties implemented minimum wage increases in 2026 above their state floor. States vary in whether they allow this — some have preemption laws blocking local ordinances.
Georgia and Wyoming both list $5.15/hour as their state minimum wage — the lowest published rates in the country. However, this only applies to employers not covered by the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). Most employers in those states are covered by FLSA and must pay the federal $7.25 minimum. Oklahoma also has a $2.00/hour rate for employers below specific size and revenue thresholds.
Some states permit a youth or training subminimum wage. Federally, FLSA allows employers to pay workers under age 20 a $4.25/hour training wage for the first 90 consecutive calendar days of employment. Nebraska established a $13.50 youth minimum wage for 14-15 year olds beginning 2026. State rules vary; consult your state labor office for specifics.
A higher minimum wage doesn't necessarily mean higher real purchasing power if cost of living is also high. Washington's $17.13/hour minimum is substantially eroded in Seattle (with cost-of-living index ~150% of national average), while Mississippi's $7.25 floor stretches further in lower-cost areas. Use FinCalcs' city-specific salary calculators to compare actual take-home pay and purchasing power across cities.