2026 State Minimum Wage Guide | VisaVerge
Comprehensive Report 2026
Effective Jan 1, 2026
50 States + DC

The 2026 Labor Landscape: State Minimum Wage Intelligence

The fiscal year 2026 marks a watershed moment in American labor economics. With the federal minimum wage frozen at $7.25 since 2009, states have fundamentally decoupled their policies from Washington D.C., creating a fragmented labor market with over 30 states now operating above the federal floor.

$17.13Highest State Rate
$7.25Federal Minimum
22States at $15+
17 yrsFederal Frozen

Complete State-by-State Reference

2026 minimum wage rates for all states above the federal minimum. Rates effective January 1, 2026 unless noted.

State2026 RateMechanismTipped WageNotes
Washington$17.13CPI-W$17.13 (No tip credit)Highest state rate
New York (NYC)$17.00Statutory$11.35Upstate $16.00
Connecticut$16.94ECI~$11.29Employment Cost Index
California$16.90CPI$16.90 (No tip credit)Fast food higher
Hawaii$16.00Statutory$14.75Path to $18 by 2028
Rhode Island$16.00Statutory$3.89+$1.00 from 2025
New Jersey$15.92CPI$6.05Constitutional
Colorado$15.16CPI$12.14Denver: $19.29
Arizona$15.15CPI$12.15Flagstaff: $18.35
Maine$15.10CPI$7.55Tipped = 50%
Delaware$15.00Statutory$2.23Final phase-in
Illinois$15.00Statutory$9.00Chicago ~$17+
Maryland$15.00Statutory$3.63MoCo $17.65+
Missouri$15.00Prop A$7.502024 ballot
Nebraska$15.00Init 433$2.13$12.87 tip gap
Florida$15.00*Constitutional$11.98*Eff Sept 30
Vermont$14.42CPI$7.21Rural economy
Alaska$14.00*BallotN/A*July 1
Michigan$13.73Court/CPI$5.49Eff Feb 21
Virginia$12.77CPI Fallback$2.13$15 path failed
South Dakota$11.85CPI$5.925Tipped = 50%
Minnesota$11.41CPI$11.41 (No tip credit)Large employers
Ohio$11.00Constitutional$5.50Lower than MI
Montana$10.85CPI$10.85 (No tip credit)One Fair Wage
CPI Consumer Price Index
ECI Employment Cost Index
Statutory Legislative
Ballot Voter Initiative
Court Court-Ordered
01

Executive Summary

By January 1, 2026, the United States will operate under two distinct labor regimes. In the Northeast and Pacific Coast, minimum wages consolidate between $16-$18/hour with automatic CPI indexing. The Midwest is in a "catch-up" phase via voter initiatives, while much of the South remains at the federal $7.25.

$17.13Highest State
$7.25Federal Rate
22States $15+
30+CPI Indexed
7No Tip Credit
Hyper-Local Wage Islands

Cities like Flagstaff, AZ ($18.35), Denver, CO ($19.29), and Tukwila, WA ($21.65) enforce wages significantly higher than their states, creating complex compliance requirements.

02

2026 Wage Map by State

Hover over or click any state to see detailed wage information. States are color-coded by minimum wage tier.

Interactive U.S. Minimum Wage Map

Click a state for detailed information

Or Select a State Below
WA$17.13
NY$17.00
CT$16.94
CA$16.90
HI$16.00
RI$16.00
DC$17.50
NJ$15.92
CO$15.16
AZ$15.15
ME$15.10
DE$15.00
IL$15.00
MD$15.00
MO$15.00
NE$15.00
FL$15.00
MA$15.00
OR$15.45
VT$14.42
AK$14.00
MI$13.73
VA$12.77
NV$12.00
NM$12.00
SD$11.85
MN$11.41
OH$11.00
MT$10.85
TX$7.25
GA$7.25
NC$7.25
TN$7.25
PA$7.25
IN$7.25
WI$7.25
IA$7.25
KS$7.25
OK$7.25
Select a state
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$16+ (Tier 1)
$15-15.99 (Tier 2)
$12-14.99 (Tier 3)
$10-11.99 (Tier 4)
Federal $7.25 (Tier 5)
03

Northeast Corridor

The Northeast leads with sophisticated indexing mechanisms—Connecticut uses ECI (Employment Cost Index) which ties wages to labor market growth rather than consumer prices.

Connecticut

ECI Indexing Pioneer
2026 Rate$16.94/hr
MechanismECI Indexed
YoY Increase+3.6%

New York

Bifurcated Economy
NYC Rate$17.00/hr
Upstate Rate$16.00/hr
Exempt Salary$66,300/yr
04

Western States

Washington leads all states at $17.13, but local jurisdictions push higher—Tukwila reaches $21.65 for all employers. Flagstaff, AZ eliminates tip credits entirely at $18.35.

Washington's Wage Archipelago

Jurisdiction2026 RateNotes
State of Washington$17.13CPI-W indexed
Seattle/SeaTac$20.74Hospitality/Transport
Tukwila$21.65All employers
Washington Exempt Threshold

To be exempt from overtime, workers must earn at least $80,168 annually (2.25× minimum). A $75K manager is legally hourly.

05

Midwest Battleground

The Midwest used voter initiatives to bypass legislative gridlock and reach the $15 benchmark.

Missouri
$15.00
Prop A
Nebraska
$15.00
Init 433
Illinois
$15.00
Statutory
Michigan
$13.73
Court Ruling
Michigan's February 21 Date

Michigan's wage increases occur on February 21st—not January 1st—following a 2024 court ruling.

06

Tipped Wage Landscape

Seven states require full minimum wage for tipped workers, and cities like Chicago and Flagstaff are phasing out tip credits.

No Tip Credit States
7
WA, CA, MT, MN, OR, AK, NV
Phasing Out
3
Chicago, Flagstaff, Michigan
Federal Tipped Min
$2.13
Unchanged since 1991
07

Frequently Asked Questions

Washington State at $17.13/hour. Local jurisdictions push higher—Tukwila reaches $21.65.

The federal minimum requires Congressional action. Political gridlock has prevented increases since $7.25 took effect in 2009.

CPI indexing automatically adjusts minimum wage based on inflation each year. Over 30 states now use this "autopilot" approach.

Employers can pay tipped workers a lower "cash wage" if tips bring total earnings to minimum wage. The federal tipped minimum is $2.13/hour since 1991. Seven states require full minimum wage plus tips.

The higher rate always applies. Denver ($19.29) overrides Colorado's $15.16 state rate.