323
Lookup 1 — Your state's 2026 rate
Pick a state or district → its minimum wage, full-time year, and lead over the federal floor.
REFERENCE TABLE · MONEY · PRINTABLE
2026 Minimum Wage by State
The whole country on one chart: 51 minimum wages, from the District of Columbia’s $18.40 an hour down to the $7.25 federal floor that still rules twenty states. A full-time year is 2,080 hours (40 a week × 52), so the spread is really $38,272 a year versus $15,080 — the same hours, more than double the pay, decided by a state line. The rates come straight from the U.S. Department of Labor’s consolidated minimum wage table (effective July 1, 2026). Below: the full table, the states that moved mid-year, three live lookups — your state’s rate, what it pays, and the gap against the federal floor — and what the numbers leave out.
324
Lookup 2 — What that wage pays
Hourly wage × hours per week → weekly, biweekly, monthly, and annual pay (before taxes).
325
Lookup 3 — Your state vs the $7.25 federal floor
Pick a state → the pay gap against the federal minimum, per hour and per full-time year.
The full 2026 chart: all 50 states + DC
Rates from the U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division — the Consolidated Minimum Wage Table, effective July 1, 2026. “Vs federal” is the hourly lead over the $7.25 federal minimum; the annual column is the rate × 2,080 full-time hours. For New York, New Jersey, Ohio, and Oregon the table shows the headline rate — the note column explains the split. Printing? Use your browser’s print command — the tables are formatted for paper (landscape fits all five columns).
| State | 2026 rate | Vs federal | Full-time year | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $18.40 | +$11.15 | $38,272.00 | Highest in the US; adjusted every July 1 |
| Washington | $17.13 | +$9.88 | $35,630.40 | Highest state rate; indexed to inflation annually |
| New York | $17.00 | +$9.75 | $35,360.00 | $17.00 in NYC, Long Island & Westchester; $16.00 elsewhere; indexed from 2027 |
| Connecticut | $16.94 | +$9.69 | $35,235.20 | Indexed to inflation annually |
| California | $16.90 | +$9.65 | $35,152.00 | Indexed to inflation annually; no tip credit |
| Hawaii | $16.00 | +$8.75 | $33,280.00 | Scheduled rises to $18.00/hr by 2028 |
| Rhode Island | $16.00 | +$8.75 | $33,280.00 | No scheduled change |
| New Jersey | $15.92 | +$8.67 | $33,113.60 | $15.23 for small/seasonal employers; indexed annually |
| Oregon | $15.55 | +$8.30 | $32,344.00 | $16.80 Portland metro, $14.55 nonurban; indexed every July 1 |
| Colorado | $15.16 | +$7.91 | $31,532.80 | Indexed to inflation annually |
| Arizona | $15.15 | +$7.90 | $31,512.00 | Indexed to inflation annually |
| Maine | $15.10 | +$7.85 | $31,408.00 | Indexed to inflation annually |
| Delaware | $15.00 | +$7.75 | $31,200.00 | Flat since 2022 |
| Illinois | $15.00 | +$7.75 | $31,200.00 | Flat since 2020 |
| Massachusetts | $15.00 | +$7.75 | $31,200.00 | Flat since 2023 |
| Maryland | $15.00 | +$7.75 | $31,200.00 | Flat since 2024 |
| Missouri | $15.00 | +$7.75 | $31,200.00 | Reached $15.00 on Jan 1, 2026 |
| Nebraska | $15.00 | +$7.75 | $31,200.00 | Reached $15.00 on Jan 1, 2026 |
| Vermont | $14.42 | +$7.17 | $29,993.60 | Indexed to inflation annually |
| Alaska | $14.00 | +$6.75 | $29,120.00 | Was $13.00 Jan–Jun 2026; indexed annually |
| Florida | $14.00 | +$6.75 | $29,120.00 | Rises to $15.00 on Sept 30, 2026; then indexed annually |
| Michigan | $13.73 | +$6.48 | $28,558.40 | Scheduled rises continue; indexed to inflation |
| Virginia | $12.77 | +$5.52 | $26,561.60 | Rises to $13.75 (2027), $15.00 (2028) |
| New Mexico | $12.00 | +$4.75 | $24,960.00 | Flat since 2009 |
| Nevada | $12.00 | +$4.75 | $24,960.00 | Flat since July 2024 |
| South Dakota | $11.85 | +$4.60 | $24,648.00 | Indexed to inflation annually |
| Minnesota | $11.41 | +$4.16 | $23,732.80 | Indexed to inflation annually; no tip credit |
| Arkansas | $11.00 | +$3.75 | $22,880.00 | Flat since 2019 |
| Ohio | $11.00 | +$3.75 | $22,880.00 | Employers under $405k receipts pay $7.25; indexed annually |
| Montana | $10.85 | +$3.60 | $22,568.00 | Indexed to inflation annually; no tip credit |
| West Virginia | $8.75 | +$1.50 | $18,200.00 | Flat since 2009 |
| Alabama | $7.25 | $0.00 | $15,080.00 | No state minimum wage law — federal $7.25 applies |
| Georgia | $7.25 | $0.00 | $15,080.00 | State law sets $5.15 — federal $7.25 applies to covered workers |
| Iowa | $7.25 | $0.00 | $15,080.00 | Matches the federal rate |
| Idaho | $7.25 | $0.00 | $15,080.00 | Matches the federal rate |
| Indiana | $7.25 | $0.00 | $15,080.00 | Matches the federal rate |
| Kansas | $7.25 | $0.00 | $15,080.00 | Matches the federal rate |
| Kentucky | $7.25 | $0.00 | $15,080.00 | Matches the federal rate |
| Louisiana | $7.25 | $0.00 | $15,080.00 | No state minimum wage law — federal $7.25 applies |
| Mississippi | $7.25 | $0.00 | $15,080.00 | No state minimum wage law — federal $7.25 applies |
| North Carolina | $7.25 | $0.00 | $15,080.00 | Matches the federal rate |
| North Dakota | $7.25 | $0.00 | $15,080.00 | Matches the federal rate |
| New Hampshire | $7.25 | $0.00 | $15,080.00 | Matches the federal rate |
| Oklahoma | $7.25 | $0.00 | $15,080.00 | Matches the federal rate |
| Pennsylvania | $7.25 | $0.00 | $15,080.00 | Matches the federal rate |
| South Carolina | $7.25 | $0.00 | $15,080.00 | No state minimum wage law — federal $7.25 applies |
| Tennessee | $7.25 | $0.00 | $15,080.00 | No state minimum wage law — federal $7.25 applies |
| Texas | $7.25 | $0.00 | $15,080.00 | Matches the federal rate |
| Utah | $7.25 | $0.00 | $15,080.00 | Matches the federal rate |
| Wisconsin | $7.25 | $0.00 | $15,080.00 | Matches the federal rate |
| Wyoming | $7.25 | $0.00 | $15,080.00 | State law sets $5.15 — federal $7.25 applies to covered workers |
States where the 2026 rate moved mid-year
Most states change rates on January 1. Four jurisdictions didn’t — so the number at the start of 2026 wasn’t the number at the end:
| State | Jan 1, 2026 | Later in 2026 | Changed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | $13.00 | $14.00 | July 1, 2026 |
| District of Columbia | $17.50 | $18.40 | July 1, 2026 |
| Oregon (standard rate) | $15.05 | $15.55 | July 1, 2026 |
| Florida | $14.00 | $15.00 | September 30, 2026 |
Where the federal floor still rules
Twenty jurisdictions sit at $7.25. Thirteen simply match the federal rate (Iowa, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, North Carolina, North Dakota, New Hampshire, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Texas, Utah, Wisconsin). Seven more are in the DOL’s third column — no state law, or a state law below the federal line:
| State | Why $7.25 applies |
|---|---|
| Alabama | No state minimum wage law — federal $7.25 applies |
| Louisiana | No state minimum wage law — federal $7.25 applies |
| Mississippi | No state minimum wage law — federal $7.25 applies |
| South Carolina | No state minimum wage law — federal $7.25 applies |
| Tennessee | No state minimum wage law — federal $7.25 applies |
| Georgia | State law sets $5.15 — federal $7.25 applies to FLSA-covered workers |
| Wyoming | State law sets $5.15 — federal $7.25 applies to FLSA-covered workers |
Federal law is the backstop: where the state rate is lower — or missing entirely — covered employers must pay at least the federal $7.25. And in every state, the rule is the highest applicable rate: if your city or county sets a higher minimum than the state, the local number wins.
Worked example: Washington at $17.13
Full-time means 40 hours a week for 52 weeks — 2,080 hours. At Washington’s $17.13: $17.13 × 2,080 = $35,630.40 a year. The federal floor: $7.25 × 2,080 = $15,080.00. The gap: $17.13 − $7.25 = $9.88 an hour, or $20,550.40 a year for the same 2,080 hours. DC tops the table: $18.40 × 2,080 = $38,272.00 — more than two and a half times the federal floor.
Output · formula · meaning
| Output | Formula | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 hourly rate | DOL consolidated table (July 1, 2026) | The legal floor — e.g. $17.13 in Washington, $7.25 in Texas. |
| Full-time annual | rate × 2,080 hours | $35,630.40 at Washington’s rate; $15,080.00 at $7.25. |
| Gap vs federal | (rate − $7.25) × 2,080 | Washington: +$20,550.40/yr for the same full-time hours. |
| Weekly paycheck | rate × hours worked | $17.13 × 40 = $685.20 a week, before taxes. |
Who uses this
- Job seekers: comparing two offers across a state line — the $9.88/hr Washington-vs-Texas gap is $20,550.40 a year of decision.
- Payroll & HR teams: checking multi-state compliance — the mid-year movers (Alaska, DC, Oregon, Florida) are the ones that get missed.
- Students & researchers: citable 2026 state wage data from the DOL table — use the citation block below.
- Workers: checking the paycheck — if you’re covered and paid less than your state’s number, that’s the wage claim to file.
Accuracy & limitations
Tipped wages are excluded — this table shows the standard minimum only. Seven states (Alaska, California, Minnesota, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Washington) require tipped workers to get the full minimum; the rest allow a tip credit down to a lower cash wage. Local ordinances may exceed the state rate — the DOL table doesn’t show city or county differentials. Multi-rate states are shown at the headline rate (NY $17.00, NJ $15.92, OR $15.55, OH $11.00) — read the note column. Subminimum rates for minors, students, and training wages aren’t shown. Rates change — the DOL table was last revised July 1, 2026; confirm with the state labor office before acting. Not legal advice.
Data sourceU.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division. “Consolidated Minimum Wage Table.” Effective July 1, 2026. dol.gov/agencies/whd/mw-consolidated.
Cite this reference tableBright Side Kit. “2026 Minimum Wage by State Chart.” brightoolbox.com, 2026.
Bright Side Kit. "2026 Minimum Wage by State Chart." https://brightoolbox.com/2026-minimum-wage-by-state/ Accessed October 23, 2026.Frequently asked questions
What is the federal minimum wage in 2026?
Still $7.25 an hour — unchanged since July 2009. It’s the floor underneath every state: where a state sets a higher rate, the state rate applies; where the state rate is lower or missing, covered employers must pay at least $7.25. A full-time year at the federal floor is $15,080 (2,080 hours).
Which state has the highest minimum wage in 2026?
Washington at $17.13 — the highest of any state, indexed to inflation every year. The District of Columbia tops all jurisdictions at $18.40. California ($16.90) and Connecticut ($16.94) round out the top five.
Which states have no minimum wage law?
Five: Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, and Tennessee. Georgia and Wyoming have state laws set at $5.15 — below the federal floor — so for FLSA-covered workers the effective minimum is $7.25 in all seven.
Why does Florida have two 2026 rates?
Florida’s voter-approved schedule stepped the rate from $14.00 to $15.00 on September 30, 2026 — so $14.00 applied January through September and $15.00 from the end of September. After reaching $15, the rate is indexed to inflation annually.
Do these rates apply to tipped workers like servers?
Not directly. Most states allow a tip credit — a lower cash wage, with tips making up the difference to the full minimum. Seven states pay tipped workers the full minimum with no tip credit: Alaska, California, Minnesota, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington. This table shows the standard rate only.
My city set a higher minimum wage than my state — which one applies?
The highest applicable rate wins. Federal, state, and local minimums stack, and the employer must pay whichever is highest. The DOL’s table doesn’t show local differentials, so check your city or county too.
How much is $17.13 an hour per year?
$35,630.40 full-time — $17.13 × 2,080 hours (40 a week × 52 weeks), before taxes. At the $7.25 federal floor the same math gives $15,080.00 — a $20,550.40 gap for identical hours.