Minimum Wage by State 2026
Every state and DC minimum wage next to the federal floor, current as of October 2026 — sourced from the DOL Consolidated Minimum Wage Table. 30 states pay above the federal minimum, 13 states match it exactly, and 7 states have no state minimum of their own — or one set below the federal floor. Looking ahead? See the 2027 edition.
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30 states plus DC, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands set their own minimum wage above $7.25. Employers there must pay the state (or local, if higher) rate.
13 states plus the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) set their minimum wage exactly at the federal rate — no state premium, but no state undercut either.
7 states plus American Samoa have no state minimum wage law (or one set below $7.25). FLSA-covered employers in those states still owe the federal $7.25 floor; in American Samoa they owe the FLSA industry rates, which are still stepping up toward it (Pub. L. 110-28 §8103(b)(2)).
2026 minimum wage by state
All 50 states + DC, alphabetical. States with more than one verified rate (by employer size or region) show every rate; see the notes below for what drives the split.
| State | 2026 minimum wage | vs. federal |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $7.25 | No state minimum |
| Alaska | $14.00 | Above federal |
| Arizona | $15.15 | Above federal |
| Arkansas | $11.00 | Above federal |
| California | $16.90 | Above federal |
| Colorado | $15.16 | Above federal |
| Connecticut | $16.94 | Above federal |
| Delaware | $15.00 | Above federal |
| District of Columbia | $18.40 | Above federal |
| Florida | $15.00 | Above federal |
| Georgia | $7.25 | No state minimum |
| Hawaii | $16.00 | Above federal |
| Idaho | $7.25 | = Federal |
| Illinois | $15.00 | Above federal |
| Indiana | $7.25 | = Federal |
| Iowa | $7.25 | = Federal |
| Kansas | $7.25 | = Federal |
| Kentucky | $7.25 | = Federal |
| Louisiana | $7.25 | No state minimum |
| Maine | $15.10 | Above federal |
| Maryland | $15.00 | Above federal |
| Massachusetts | $15.00 | Above federal |
| Michigan | $13.73 | Above federal |
| Minnesota | $11.41 | Above federal |
| Mississippi | $7.25 | No state minimum |
| Missouri | $15.00 | Above federal |
| Montana | $10.85 | Above federal |
| Nebraska | $15.00 | Above federal |
| Nevada | $12.00 | Above federal |
| New Hampshire | $7.25 | = Federal |
| New Jersey | $15.92 or $15.23 | Above federal |
| New Mexico | $12.00 | Above federal |
| New York | $17.00 or $16.00 | Above federal |
| North Carolina | $7.25 | = Federal |
| North Dakota | $7.25 | = Federal |
| Ohio | $11.00 or $7.25 | Above federal |
| Oklahoma | $7.25 | = Federal |
| Oregon | $16.80 or $15.55 or $14.55 | Above federal |
| Pennsylvania | $7.25 | = Federal |
| Rhode Island | $16.00 | Above federal |
| South Carolina | $7.25 | No state minimum |
| South Dakota | $11.85 | Above federal |
| Tennessee | $7.25 | No state minimum |
| Texas | $7.25 | = Federal |
| Utah | $7.25 | = Federal |
| Vermont | $14.42 | Above federal |
| Virginia | $12.77 | Above federal |
| Washington | $17.13 | Above federal |
| West Virginia | $8.75 | Above federal |
| Wisconsin | $7.25 | = Federal |
| Wyoming | $7.25 | No state minimum |
Multi-rate states — what the split means
A handful of states don't set one statewide number. The lower/second rate always applies to a narrower group (smaller employers, a specific region, or employers not covered by the FLSA) — never assume which rate applies to you without checking the source below.
- Florida: Florida's constitutional schedule stepped from $14.00 to $15.00 on September 30, 2026; $14.00 applied from January 1 to September 29, 2026.
- Georgia: Georgia and Wyoming each have a state minimum wage law set at $5.15/hour — below the federal floor, so FLSA-covered employers still owe $7.25.
- Montana: Montana sets a lower rate for certain small businesses not covered by the FLSA — see the DOL table or Montana Dept. of Labor & Industry for the exact threshold.
- New Jersey: New Jersey sets a lower rate for seasonal and small employers — see the DOL table or NJ Dept. of Labor for the exact threshold.
- New York: New York sets a higher rate in NYC, Long Island and Westchester, and a lower rate for the rest of the state — see the DOL table or NY Dept. of Labor for the exact geographic split.
- Ohio: Ohio sets a lower rate for smaller employers below a gross-receipts threshold — see the DOL table or Ohio Dept. of Commerce for the exact threshold.
- Oregon: Oregon sets a higher rate in the Portland metro area and a lower rate in nonurban counties, with a standard rate in between — see the DOL table or Oregon BOLI for the exact geographic split.
- Wyoming: Georgia and Wyoming each have a state minimum wage law set at $5.15/hour — below the federal floor, so FLSA-covered employers still owe $7.25.
- U.S. Virgin Islands: Act No. 9069 raised the rate from $10.50 to $12.00 effective April 24, 2026 (90 days after enactment); the next step is $14.00 on June 1, 2027.
- American Samoa: American Samoa's FLSA minimum wage is set industry by industry and rises every three years until it reaches the federal rate (Pub. L. 110-28 §8103(b)(2)); the rate shown is that federal ceiling, not the rate every covered employer owes.
Territories
Guam, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands set their own minimum wage; the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) follows the federal rate. American Samoa has no territorial minimum wage law; its FLSA minimum is a set of industry rates still rising every three years toward the federal rate, so the federal rate shown is the ceiling of that schedule, not what every employer owes.
| Territory | 2026 minimum wage | vs. federal |
|---|---|---|
| American Samoa | $7.25 | No state minimum |
| Guam | $9.25 | Above federal |
| Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) | $7.25 | = Federal |
| Puerto Rico | $10.50 | Above federal |
| U.S. Virgin Islands | $12.00 | Above federal |
Local minimum wages can go even higher
Many cities and counties set their own minimum wage above their state's rate — Seattle, San Francisco, and dozens of other localities are well above their state floor. Some states also carve out subminimum rates for specific occupations, trainees, or students. Employers must pay whichever applicable rate (federal, state, or local) is highest. For the authoritative, continuously-updated figures and any local ordinances, see the DOL State Minimum Wage Laws page or your state's labor department.
Frequently asked questions
What is the federal minimum wage in 2026?
The federal minimum wage under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) is $7.25/hour, unchanged since 2009. It's the wage floor for FLSA-covered employers in every state, territory, and district except American Samoa, where FLSA-covered employers owe industry-by-industry rates that step up every three years until they reach the federal rate (Pub. L. 110-28 §8103(b)(2)). States and territories can set a higher rate, but none of them can set a lower one for FLSA-covered work.
Which state has the highest minimum wage in 2026?
District of Columbia has the highest rate in the table at $18.40/hour. Washington ($17.13), New York (up to $17.00 in NYC/Long Island/Westchester), and Connecticut ($16.94) are close behind. All figures are current as of October 2026 per the DOL Consolidated Minimum Wage Table — individual states' own effective dates vary (most changed January 1, 2026; a few change on July 1).
Can cities and counties set a higher minimum wage than their state?
Yes. Many cities and counties (for example within California, Washington, and Illinois) set local minimum wages above their state's rate. This table shows state and territory floors only — always check your specific city or county ordinance, since the highest applicable rate (federal, state, or local) is the one that legally applies.
Does the minimum wage apply the same way to tipped workers?
No — federal tipped minimum cash wage rules differ from the standard minimum wage, and many states set their own, higher tipped minimum cash wages or require tipped workers to be paid the full standard minimum wage before tips. This page does not cover tipped-wage figures; see the DOL's minimum wage pages for tipped-employee rules in your state.
Do employers pay the state or the federal minimum wage?
Whichever is higher for that employee. Federal law sets a floor, not a ceiling — where a state (or local) minimum wage exceeds the federal rate, FLSA-covered employers must pay the higher state or local rate. Where a state has no minimum wage law, or one below $7.25, FLSA-covered employers still owe the federal $7.25 floor.
When do state minimum wage rates change?
It varies by state. Many states adjust on January 1 (some via statutory schedules, some via annual cost-of-living/inflation indexing), while a smaller group — including several rates on this page — take effect July 1. A few states have no scheduled increases at all. Check your state Department of Labor for the exact effective date and any indexing formula.
Why do some states show two or three rates?
A handful of states apply different rates by employer size or by region rather than a single statewide number — for example, a lower rate for small or seasonal employers, or a higher rate in a major metro area than in the rest of the state. This table shows all verified rates for those states; see the notes below the table and the DOL table for the exact split.
Sources
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