The federal minimum wage is $7.25 an hour, but most workers are owed more because their state sets a higher rate [1]. When federal, state and local rates differ, you’re owed the highest one that covers your job [2]. Our federal minimum wage guide explains how they fit together and how tipped wages work.
At a glance
- Federal minimum wage
- $7.25 an hour, unchanged since July 24, 2009 [2]
- Highest state rate
- Washington, $17.13 (D.C. is $18.40) [1]
- States above $7.25
- 30, plus D.C. [1]
- States at $7.25 or with no state law
- 20 [1]
- States with no minimum wage law
- Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Tennessee [1]
The 2026 table
Rates are the main rate for most employers, from the Department of Labor’s state table updated July 1, 2026 [1]. Florida’s reflects its September 30, 2026 increase [3]. Many states have lower rates for small employers or higher ones in certain cities; the note column flags the big ones. Where a Best network site covers a state in depth, its guide is linked.
| State | Minimum wage | Note | In-depth guide |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $7.25 | No state law; federal rate applies | |
| Alaska | $14.00 | ||
| Arizona | $15.15 | ||
| Arkansas | $11.00 | Employers with 4 or more employees | |
| California | $16.90 | Many cities set higher rates; $17.40 from Jan 1, 2027 | California minimum wage 2026 |
| Colorado | $15.16 | ||
| Connecticut | $16.94 | ||
| Delaware | $15.00 | ||
| District of Columbia | $18.40 | ||
| Florida | $15.00 | Since Sept 30, 2026 | Florida minimum wage |
| Georgia | $7.25 | State rate is $5.15, but most jobs are covered by the federal $7.25 | Georgia minimum wage |
| Hawaii | $16.00 | ||
| Idaho | $7.25 | ||
| Illinois | $15.00 | Chicago and Cook County are higher | Illinois minimum wage |
| Indiana | $7.25 | ||
| Iowa | $7.25 | ||
| Kansas | $7.25 | ||
| Kentucky | $7.25 | ||
| Louisiana | $7.25 | No state law; federal rate applies | |
| Maine | $15.10 | ||
| Maryland | $15.00 | ||
| Massachusetts | $15.00 | ||
| Michigan | $13.73 | $15.00 from Jan 1, 2027 | Michigan minimum wage 2026 |
| Minnesota | $11.41 | ||
| Mississippi | $7.25 | No state law; federal rate applies | |
| Missouri | $15.00 | ||
| Montana | $10.85 | Businesses with sales over $110,000 | |
| Nebraska | $15.00 | Employers with 4 or more employees | |
| Nevada | $12.00 | ||
| New Hampshire | $7.25 | ||
| New Jersey | $15.92 | $15.23 for seasonal and small employers | New Jersey minimum wage 2026 |
| New Mexico | $12.00 | ||
| New York | $17.00 | NYC, Long Island and Westchester; $16.00 elsewhere | New York minimum wage 2026 |
| North Carolina | $7.25 | North Carolina minimum wage | |
| North Dakota | $7.25 | ||
| Ohio | $11.00 | Employers with gross receipts of $405,000 or more | Ohio minimum wage |
| Oklahoma | $7.25 | Larger employers; $2.00 for others not covered federally | |
| Oregon | $15.55 | $16.80 Portland metro; $14.55 non-urban counties | |
| Pennsylvania | $7.25 | Pennsylvania minimum wage | |
| Rhode Island | $16.00 | ||
| South Carolina | $7.25 | No state law; federal rate applies | |
| South Dakota | $11.85 | ||
| Tennessee | $7.25 | No state law; federal rate applies | |
| Texas | $7.25 | Cities can’t set a higher rate | Texas minimum wage |
| Utah | $7.25 | ||
| Vermont | $14.42 | Employers with 2 or more employees | |
| Virginia | $12.77 | ||
| Washington | $17.13 | ||
| West Virginia | $8.75 | Employers with 6 or more employees at one location | |
| Wisconsin | $7.25 | ||
| Wyoming | $7.25 | State rate is $5.15, but most jobs are covered by the federal $7.25 |
If you’re paid less than the rate that applies
- Federal rate: the Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division takes complaints at 1-866-487-9243 [2].
- State or local rate: your state labor department enforces its own rate. The Labor Department’s state table links to each one [1].
Sources
Common questions
Which state has the highest minimum wage in 2026?
Among the states, Washington at $17.13 an hour. Washington, D.C. is higher at $18.40. Some cities and counties set rates above their state's.
How many states pay only $7.25?
20 states: 15 set their main rate at $7.25 or let the federal rate apply, and 5 (Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina and Tennessee) have no state minimum wage law at all. Georgia and Wyoming have $5.15 state rates, but most jobs there are covered by the federal $7.25.
If my state's rate is lower than $7.25, which applies?
If your job is covered by the federal Fair Labor Standards Act, you're owed at least $7.25. You always get the higher of the federal, state and local rates that apply to you.