Minimum Wage by State (2026)

District of Columbia currently has the highest minimum wage at $18.40 per hour. Several cities set even higher local rates — some West Coast cities exceed $19 per hour.

The federal minimum wage is $7.25 per hour and has not changed since July 24, 2009. The federal tipped minimum wage is $2.13 per hour. Where a state sets a higher rate, employers must pay the state rate.

20 states either have no state minimum wage or set it at or below the federal level, so the federal $7.25 rate applies to most employees there: Alabama, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Hampshire, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Wisconsin, Wyoming.

Most states allow employers to pay tipped employees a lower cash wage as long as tips bring total earnings up to the full minimum wage (a "tip credit"). Several states — including California and Washington — require the full minimum wage before tips.

Most increases take effect on January 1, though some states use July 1 and Florida uses September 30. Many states now index their rate to inflation, so annual adjustments are the norm — employers operating in multiple states should re-check rates at least twice a year.

Employers must always pay the highest rate that applies to the employee's work location. If a city rate exceeds the state rate, the city rate wins; if the state exceeds federal, the state rate wins.