Minimum Wage by State (2026)
Every state minimum wage for 2026, highest to lowest, with the tipped cash wage and annual full-time earnings. Each state links to its own overtime calculator, because the minimum wage and the overtime rule often move together.
Quick answer: the highest state minimum wage in 2026 is Washington at $17.13/hour, followed by Connecticut ($16.94), California ($16.90) and Rhode Island ($16.00). Twenty states remain at the federal $7.25, and five — Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina and Tennessee — have no state minimum wage law at all.
Highest state minimum wages 2026
| State | 2026 minimum | Full-time annual | Tipped cash wage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $17.13 | $19.60 | No tip credit |
| Connecticut | $16.94 | $19.37 | $7.58 |
| California | $16.90 | $19.33 | No tip credit |
| Hawaii | $16.00 | $18.30 | $2.57 |
| Rhode Island | $16.00 | $18.30 | $3.89 |
| New Jersey | $15.92 | $18.21 | $6.05 |
| Colorado | $15.16 | $17.34 | $12.14 |
| Maine | $15.10 | $17.27 | $7.55 |
| Arizona | $15.15 | $17.33 | $12.15 |
| New York | $17.00 / $16.00 | $19.44 | Separate tip rates |
| Maryland | $15.00 | $17.16 | $3.63 |
| Massachusetts | $15.00 | $17.16 | $6.75 |
| Missouri | $15.00 | $17.16 | $7.50 |
| Nebraska | $15.00 | $17.16 | $2.13 |
| Florida | $15.00 | $17.16 | Tip credit varies |
| Vermont | $14.42 | $16.49 | $7.21 |
| Alaska | $14.00 | $16.01 | No tip credit |
| Delaware | $15.00 | $17.16 | $2.23 |
| Illinois | $15.00 | $17.16 | $9.00 (60% cap) |
| Virginia | $12.77 | $14.61 | $2.13 |
| Minnesota | $11.41 | $13.05 | No tip credit |
| New Mexico | $12.00 | $13.72 | $3.00 |
| South Dakota | $11.85 | $13.55 | $5.93 |
| Arkansas | $11.00 | $12.58 | $2.63 |
| Ohio | $11.00 | $12.58 | $4.40 |
| Montana | $10.85 | $12.41 | No tip credit |
| Michigan | $10.33 | $11.82 | Tip credit phasing out |
| West Virginia | $8.75 | $10.01 | $2.62 |
| Wyoming | $5.15 state / $7.25 federal | $8.29 | $2.13 |
Annual figures assume 40 hours a week, 52 weeks a year, before tax. Tipped rates assume the federal framework unless the state runs its own tip credit; the full minimum must still be reached once tips are counted.
States at or near the federal floor
| State | 2026 minimum | Tipped cash wage |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $7.25 | $2.13 |
| Georgia | $5.15 state / $7.25 federal | $2.13 |
| Idaho | $7.25 | $3.35 |
| Indiana | $7.25 | $2.13 |
| Iowa | $7.25 | $4.35 |
| Kansas | $7.25 | $2.13 |
| Kentucky | $7.25 | $2.13 |
| Louisiana | $7.25 (federal) | $2.13 |
| Mississippi | $7.25 (federal) | $2.13 |
| New Hampshire | $7.25 | $3.27 |
| North Carolina | $7.25 | $2.13 |
| North Dakota | $7.25 | $4.86 |
| Oklahoma | $7.25 | $2.13 |
| Pennsylvania | $7.25 | $2.83 |
| South Carolina | $7.25 (federal) | $2.13 |
| Tennessee | $7.25 (federal) | $2.13 |
| Texas | $7.25 | $2.13 |
| Utah | $7.25 | $2.13 |
| Wisconsin | $7.25 | $2.33 |
How the minimum wage and overtime interact
- Overtime is based on the regular rate, which must be at least the applicable minimum wage — so raising the minimum lifts every overtime hour too.
- Nevada is the one state where the minimum wage decides the overtime rule: the 8-hour daily rule only applies below 1.5× the minimum ($18.00 in 2026).
- Local rates can beat state rates in California, Colorado (Denver), New York, Washington (Seattle, Tukwila), New Mexico (Santa Fe), Minnesota (Minneapolis, St. Paul), Maine (Portland) and Maryland (Montgomery, Prince George's counties).
- Tipped workers must reach the full minimum once tips are counted; if they do not, the employer makes up the difference.
Frequently asked questions
What is the federal minimum wage in 2026?
$7.25/hour, unchanged since July 2009 — the longest period without an increase in US history.
Which state has the highest minimum wage?
Washington at $17.13/hour, followed by Connecticut ($16.94) and California ($16.90). Washington DC is higher still at $18.40 but is not a state.
Which states have no minimum wage?
Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina and Tennessee have no state minimum wage law; the federal $7.25 applies to FLSA-covered employers.
Does the minimum wage affect overtime pay?
Yes. Overtime is 1.5× the regular rate, and the regular rate cannot fall below the applicable minimum wage — so a higher minimum raises the overtime rate as well.
Can a city set a higher minimum wage than its state?
Only where state law allows it. Around 20 states pre-empt local wage ordinances, including Texas, Florida, Iowa, Wisconsin and Oklahoma.