The federal minimum wage has been $7.25 an hour since 2009, but most Americans live in a state that requires more. In 2026, the gap between the lowest and highest state is more than $9 an hour. Here is where every state stands, using the U.S. Department of Labor’s state table (current as of July 1, 2026) and later changes confirmed on state sources.
The short version
- Highest: Washington, D.C. at $18.40; among states, Washington at $17.13.
- 20 states have no minimum above the federal $7.25.
- 18 states are at $15 or more.
- Florida rose to $15.00 on September 30, 2026; Michigan is scheduled to reach $15.00 on January 1, 2027.
The highest minimum wages
| Place | Minimum wage | Full-time year (2,080 hours) |
|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $18.40 | $38,272 |
| Washington | $17.13 | $35,630 |
| Connecticut | $16.94 | $35,235 |
| California | $16.90 | $35,152 |
| Hawaii | $16.00 | $33,280 |
| New York (most of the state) | $16.00 | $33,280 |
| Rhode Island | $16.00 | $33,280 |
| New Jersey | $15.92 | $33,114 |
Several of these states adjust their rate every year for inflation. Many cities and counties also set higher local minimums, Seattle and Denver among them, so check your city as well.
States at the federal $7.25
Twenty states have no minimum wage above $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 and Wyoming.
In a few of them the picture is a little more complicated. Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina and Tennessee have no state minimum wage law. Georgia and Wyoming have a state rate of $5.15, but most employers are covered by the federal law and must pay $7.25. Our guide to federal vs. state minimum wage explains which rate applies.
What full-time minimum wage pay adds up to
| Hourly rate | Week (40 hours) | Month (average) | Year (2,080 hours) |
|---|---|---|---|
| $7.25 | $290.00 | $1,256.67 | $15,080 |
| $12.00 | $480.00 | $2,080.00 | $24,960 |
| $15.00 | $600.00 | $2,600.00 | $31,200 |
| $16.90 | $676.00 | $2,929.33 | $35,152 |
| $18.40 | $736.00 | $3,189.33 | $38,272 |
Example
Kayla works 32 hours a week at a café in Tampa. Before September 30, 2026, Florida’s minimum was $14.00, so her weekly pay was $448. At the new $15.00, it’s $480, or $1,664 more over a year at the same hours.
Changes in 2026 and 2027
- Florida: $14.00 → $15.00 on September 30, 2026, the last step in the schedule written into the state constitution. From 2027 it is adjusted for inflation each September 30.
- Oregon: new rates took effect July 1, 2026. Standard $15.55, Portland metro $16.80, non-urban counties $14.55.
- Michigan: $13.73 now, scheduled to rise to $15.00 on January 1, 2027.
- Annual inflation adjustments: states including Washington, Maine, Vermont, South Dakota and Minnesota recalculate their rates each year, usually effective January 1.
We re-check these rates against official sources after each January 1, July 1 and September 30, the dates when most changes take effect.
Find your state
Every state’s rate, with weekly, monthly and yearly pay and its official source, is on our minimum wage by state page. For example: California, Texas, Florida, New York and Georgia.
Things the state rate doesn’t cover
- Tipped workers can have a lower cash wage in many states, as long as tips bring them up to the full minimum.
- Youth, training and some small-business rates can differ.
- Local minimums in some cities and counties are higher than the state rate.
- Overtime: covered workers earn at least 1.5 times their regular rate for hours over 40 in a workweek. See how to calculate overtime pay.
To turn any hourly rate into weekly, monthly and yearly pay, use our hourly to salary calculator.
Every state at a glance
| State | Minimum wage |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $7.25 |
| Alaska | $14.00 |
| Arizona | $15.15 |
| Arkansas | $11.00 |
| California | $16.90 |
| Colorado | $15.16 |
| Connecticut | $16.94 |
| Delaware | $15.00 |
| District of Columbia | $18.40 |
| Florida | $15.00 |
| Georgia | $7.25* |
| Hawaii | $16.00 |
| Idaho | $7.25 |
| Illinois | $15.00 |
| Indiana | $7.25 |
| Iowa | $7.25 |
| Kansas | $7.25 |
| Kentucky | $7.25 |
| Louisiana | $7.25 |
| Maine | $15.10 |
| Maryland | $15.00 |
| Massachusetts | $15.00 |
| Michigan | $13.73 |
| Minnesota | $11.41 |
| Mississippi | $7.25 |
| Missouri | $15.00 |
| Montana | $10.85 |
| Nebraska | $15.00 |
| Nevada | $12.00 |
| New Hampshire | $7.25 |
| New Jersey | $15.92 |
| New Mexico | $12.00 |
| New York | $16.00** |
| North Carolina | $7.25 |
| North Dakota | $7.25 |
| Ohio | $11.00*** |
| Oklahoma | $7.25 |
| Oregon | $15.55 |
| Pennsylvania | $7.25 |
| Rhode Island | $16.00 |
| South Carolina | $7.25 |
| South Dakota | $11.85 |
| Tennessee | $7.25 |
| Texas | $7.25 |
| Utah | $7.25 |
| Vermont | $14.42 |
| Virginia | $12.77 |
| Washington | $17.13 |
| West Virginia | $8.75 |
| Wisconsin | $7.25 |
| Wyoming | $7.25* |
Why state minimum wages differ so much
Each state decides its own minimum through legislation or ballot measures, and many tie it to inflation so it rises a little each year. States that haven’t set a rate above $7.25 rely on the federal minimum, which Congress hasn’t changed since 2009. That is how the gap between the top and bottom grew to more than $9 an hour.
