2026 Changes to State Minimum Wages
Minimum wage laws vary by state and in many cases, by county or city. Below, you’ll find a list of states with scheduled minimum wage changes taking effect in 2026. Only states with confirmed 2026 updates are included. Be sure to also review your local city or county regulations, as local minimum wage rates may differ.
Alaska
Current State Minimum Rate: $11.91 per hour
Starting July 1, 2026: $14.00 per hour
Arizona
Current State Minimum Rate: $14.70 per hour, $11.70 per hour – Tipped Minimum Wage
Starting January 1, 2026: $15.15 per hour, $12.15 per hour – Tipped Minimum Wage
California
Current State Minimum Rate: $16.50 per hour
Starting January 1, 2026: $16.90 per hour
Please Note: The above figures represent California state minimum wages, however, numerous local jurisdictions in California have their own minimum wage rates. Please refer to the minimum wage rate in your local jurisdiction.
Colorado
Current Minimum Rate: $14.81 per hour, $11.79 per hour – Tipped Minimum Wage
Starting January 1, 2026: $15.16 per hour, $12.14 per hour – Tipped Minimum Wage
Connecticut
Current Minimum Rate: $16.35 per hour
Starting January 1, 2026: $16.94 per hour
Florida
Current Minimum Rate: $14.00 per hour, $10.98 per hour – Tipped Minimum Wage
Starting September 30, 2026: $15.00 per hour, $11.98 per hour – Tipped Minimum Wage
Hawaii
Current Minimum Rate: $14.00 per hour
Starting January 1, 2026: $16.00 per hour
Maine
Current Minimum Rate: $14.65 per hour, $7.33 per hour – Tipped Minimum Wage
Starting January 1, 2026: $15.10 per hour, $7.55 per hour – Tipped Minimum Wage
Michigan
Current Minimum Rate: $12.48 per hour, $4.74 per hour – Tipped Minimum Wage
Starting January 1, 2026: $13.73 per hour
Starting February 1, 2026: $5.49 per hour– Tipped Minimum Wage
Minnesota
Current Minimum Rate: $11.13 per hour
Starting January 1, 2026: $11.41 per hour
Missouri
Current Minimum Rate: $13.75 per hour, $6.88 per hour – Tipped Minimum Wage
Starting January 1, 2026: $15.00 per hour, $7.50 per hour – Tipped Minimum Wage
Montana
Current Minimum Rate: $10.55 per hour
Starting January 1, 2026: $10.85 per hour
Nebraska
Current Minimum Rate: $13.50 per hour
Starting January 1, 2026: $15.00 per hour
New Jersey
Current Minimum Rate: $15.49 per hour (for employers with 6 or more employees), $14.53 per hour (for seasonal and employers with less than 6 employees), $5.62 per hour – Tipped Minimum Wage
Starting January 1, 2026: $15.92 per hour (for employers with 6 or more employees), $15.23 per hour (for seasonal and employers with less than 6 employees), $6.05 per hour – Tipped Minimum Wage
New York (NYC, Suffolk, Nassau and Westchester)
Current Minimum Rate: $16.50 per hour
Starting January 1, 2026: $17.00 per hour
New York (All other areas outside of NYC, Suffolk, Nassau and Westchester)
Current Minimum Rate: $15.50 per hour
Starting January 1, 2025: $16.00 per hour
Ohio
Current Minimum Rate: $10.70 per hour (only those employers with annual gross receipts of more than $394,000 per year), $5.35 per hour – Tipped Minimum Wage
Starting January 1, 2026: $11.00 per hour, $5.50 per hour – Tipped Minimum Wage
Rhode Island
Current Minimum Rate: $15.00 per hour
Starting January 1, 2026: $16.00 per hour
South Dakota
Current Minimum Rate: $11.50 per hour, $5.75 per hour – Tipped Minimum Wage
Starting January 1, 2026: $11.85 per hour, $5.925 per hour – Tipped Minimum Wage
Vermont
Current Minimum Rate: $14.01 per hour, $7.01 per hour – Tipped Minimum Wage
Starting January 1, 2026: $14.42 per hour, $7.21 per hour – Tipped Minimum Wage
Virginia
Current Minimum Rate: $12.41 per hour
Starting January 1, 2026: $12.77 per hour
Washington
Current Minimum Rate: $16.66 per hour
Starting January 1, 2026: $17.13 per hour
American Samoa
American Samoa has special minimum wage rates.
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* MPAY LLC dba Payentry (Company), is not a law firm. This article is intended for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon in reaching a conclusion in a particular area of law. Applicability of the legal principles discussed may differ substantially in individual situations. Receipt of this or any other Company materials does not create an attorney-client relationship. The Company is not responsible for any inadvertent errors that may occur in the publishing process.
