Minimum Wage by State 2026 and 2027: Full 50-State Table
A full 50-state and DC table for 2026, the confirmed January 1, 2027 raises, and the rights and worked numbers that matter to Arab workers in the US.
Update log
- : Full rewrite: 50-state and DC table for 2026 with the 14 confirmed January 1, 2027 raises, tipped wages, a worked monthly example and Arab-American hub cities.
In short (updated October 14, 2026): The federal minimum wage is $7.25 an hour and has not changed since July 24, 2009. Thirty states and Washington, DC set a higher floor. The top state rate is Washington's $17.13 in 2026, and among major cities Seattle leads at $21.30. On January 1, 2027, 14 states raise their minimum under official announcements or existing law, including Washington ($17.73), Connecticut ($17.48), California ($17.40) and Michigan ($15.00). You are always owed the highest of the federal, state and local rate, whatever your immigration status.
How the minimum wage works
There are three layers: the federal floor under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), your state's rate, and in some places a city or county rate. Whichever is highest applies to you.
Many states tie their rate to inflation and publish the new number between August and October, effective January 1. Others write the future rates directly into law. Oregon, Alaska and DC adjust on July 1 instead, and Florida's scheduled steps have landed on September 30.
Twenty states have no rate above $7.25, so the federal floor is the effective minimum there. That list includes Texas, Pennsylvania, Georgia, North Carolina and Tennessee.
Which states raise the minimum wage on January 1, 2027?
These increases were announced by state labor agencies or are set by statute. We checked each one as of October 14, 2026:
| State | 2026 | From Jan 1, 2027 | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $17.13 | $17.73 | Inflation (L&I) |
| Connecticut | $16.94 | $17.48 | Employment cost index |
| California | $16.90 | $17.40 | Inflation (Dept. of Finance) |
| Rhode Island | $16.00 | $17.00 | 2025 law |
| New Jersey | $15.92 | $16.48 | Inflation |
| Colorado | $15.16 | $15.71 | Inflation |
| Maine | $15.10 | $15.70 | Inflation |
| Nebraska | $15.00 | $15.26 | Fixed 1.75% step |
| Michigan | $13.73 | $15.00 | Wage statute |
| Virginia | $12.77 | $13.75 | 2026 law |
| South Dakota | $11.85 | $12.30 | Inflation |
| Minnesota | $11.41 | $11.87 | Inflation |
| Ohio | $11.00 | $11.40 | Inflation |
| Montana | $10.85 | $11.20 | Inflation |
Two inflation-indexed states had no official notice we could confirm by our review date: Arizona (local press calculates about $15.65 from the CPI formula, but we could not reach the Industrial Commission's announcement) and Vermont. New York officially announced that its rates stay the same in 2027.
Minimum wage in all 50 states and DC
Figures are the standard hourly rate for most employers. Several states exempt very small businesses or allow lower rates for minors, so check your state's official page for the details.
| State | 2026 | January 1, 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $7.25 (no state law) | No change |
| Alaska | $14.00 (since July 1, 2026) | No January change; next step July 2027 |
| Arizona | $15.15 | Not yet officially announced |
| Arkansas | $11.00 | No change announced |
| California | $16.90 | $17.40 |
| Colorado | $15.16 | $15.71 |
| Connecticut | $16.94 | $17.48 |
| Delaware | $15.00 | No change announced |
| District of Columbia | $18.40 (since July 1, 2026) | No January change; adjusts each July 1 |
| Florida | $15.00 (since Sept 30, 2026) | No change through Dec 31, 2027 |
| Georgia | $7.25 (federal) | No change |
| Hawaii | $16.00 | No change in 2027 |
| Idaho | $7.25 | No change |
| Illinois | $15.00 | No change announced |
| Indiana | $7.25 | No change |
| Iowa | $7.25 | No change |
| Kansas | $7.25 | No change |
| Kentucky | $7.25 | No change |
| Louisiana | $7.25 (no state law) | No change |
| Maine | $15.10 | $15.70 |
| Maryland | $15.00 | No change announced |
| Massachusetts | $15.00 | No change announced |
| Michigan | $13.73 | $15.00 |
| Minnesota | $11.41 | $11.87 |
| Mississippi | $7.25 (no state law) | No change |
| Missouri | $15.00 | No change announced |
| Montana | $10.85 | $11.20 |
| Nebraska | $15.00 | $15.26 |
| Nevada | $12.00 | No change announced |
| New Hampshire | $7.25 | No change |
| New Jersey | $15.92 | $16.48 |
| New Mexico | $12.00 | No change announced |
| New York | $17.00 (NYC, Long Island, Westchester); $16.00 (rest of state) | No change (official) |
| North Carolina | $7.25 | No change |
| North Dakota | $7.25 | No change |
| Ohio | $11.00 | $11.40 |
| Oklahoma | $7.25 | No change |
| Oregon | $15.55 (Portland metro $16.80) | No January change; adjusts each July 1 |
| Pennsylvania | $7.25 | No change |
| Rhode Island | $16.00 | $17.00 |
| South Carolina | $7.25 (no state law) | No change |
| South Dakota | $11.85 | $12.30 |
| Tennessee | $7.25 (no state law) | No change |
| Texas | $7.25 | No change |
| Utah | $7.25 | No change |
| Vermont | $14.42 | Not yet officially announced |
| Virginia | $12.77 | $13.75 |
| Washington | $17.13 | $17.73 |
| West Virginia | $8.75 | No change announced |
| Wisconsin | $7.25 | No change |
| Wyoming | $7.25 (federal) | No change |
The 2026 column follows the US Department of Labor's state table; the 2027 column follows each state labor agency's notice (see sources below). "No change" means the state uses the federal rate; "No change announced" means we found no scheduled increase as of October 14, 2026.
Do I get minimum wage without a work permit?
Yes. The Labor Department's Wage and Hour Division (WHD) says it enforces the law without regard to a worker's immigration status. Minimum wage and overtime are owed for every hour actually worked, whether you are a citizen, a green card holder, an asylum applicant or undocumented.
That does not make unauthorized work safe for your immigration case. If you are waiting on asylum or adjustment of status, read our EAD work permit guide before taking a job.
Restaurant jobs and tipped work
Under federal law, an employer may pay a tipped worker (someone who regularly gets more than $30 a month in tips) a cash wage as low as $2.13 an hour, but tips plus wages must reach the full minimum. If they fall short, the employer pays the difference.
Alaska, California, Minnesota, Montana, Nevada, Oregon and Washington allow no tip credit at all: you get the full state minimum before tips. Here are verified cash wages in some other states:
| State | Tipped cash wage |
|---|---|
| Florida | $11.98 from Sept 30, 2026 |
| Colorado | $12.69 in 2027 |
| New York (food service) | $11.35 NYC area, $10.70 rest of state (2027) |
| Maine | $7.85 in 2027 |
| New Jersey | $6.61 in 2027 |
| Michigan | $6.30 in 2027 (42% of the minimum) |
| Ohio | $5.70 in 2027 |
| South Dakota | $6.15 in 2027 |
| Rhode Island | $3.89 in 2026 |
Tips belong to the worker. Owners and managers cannot keep any part of them, even through a tip pool. For the customer side, see tipping in the USA.
Overtime
Non-exempt employees earn one and a half times their regular rate for every hour over 40 in a workweek. An agreement to skip overtime does not cancel it, and hours cannot be shifted to another week. California also requires daily overtime after 8 hours.
Example: a Michigan worker at $15.00 in 2027 who works 48 hours earns 40 × $15.00 = $600 plus 8 × $22.50 = $180, so $780 before taxes.
What minimum wage pays per month: 3 states
Full time is 40 hours × 52 weeks ÷ 12 months, about 173.3 hours a month. These are gross figures before taxes:
| Place | Hourly | Monthly (approx.) | Yearly |
|---|---|---|---|
| California (Anaheim, LA area), 2027 | $17.40 | $3,016 | $36,192 |
| Michigan (Dearborn, Detroit), 2027 | $15.00 | $2,600 | $31,200 |
| Texas (Houston, Dallas) | $7.25 | $1,257 | $15,080 |
In Dearborn, the January 2027 raise adds about $220 a month for a full-time worker. For take-home pay, try our paycheck calculator and see state income tax by state; Texas, for example, has no state income tax.
Local minimums in Arab-American hubs
- Dearborn and Detroit, MI: no local minimum. A 2015 Michigan law bars cities from requiring more than the state rate, so it is $13.73, then $15.00 on January 1, 2027.
- Brooklyn and New York City: $17.00, unchanged in 2027.
- Paterson and Jersey City, NJ: the state's $15.92, then $16.48.
- Chicago and Bridgeview, IL: Chicago and Cook County have local rates above Illinois's $15.00. Check the current figure on the city or county site.
- Los Angeles and Anaheim, CA: the state's $16.90, then $17.40; some California cities and counties set higher local rates, so check yours.
- Northern Virginia: $12.77, then $13.75 in 2027 and $15.00 in 2028 under state law.
- Seattle and Denver: among the highest anywhere: Seattle $21.30 in 2026 and $22.14 in 2027; Denver $19.84 in 2027.
How to report wage theft
- Keep records. Write down start and end times every day and save pay stubs and texts with your employer.
- Ask in writing if you can. A short message listing the hours and the missing amount helps later.
- Call WHD for free at 1-866-487-9243 and ask for an Arabic interpreter. Complaints are confidential, and employers may not retaliate against you for filing.
- Or file with your state labor agency, especially when the state rate is higher than the federal one.
- Act quickly. Federal back-wage claims generally have a two-year limit, or three years for willful violations.
If you are fired or punished over your religion or origin, read workplace discrimination rights; if you lose your job, see unemployment benefits.
Common mistakes
- Accepting a flat "day rate" without checking it against the hours actually worked.
- Assuming that working for a relative or a community business means the rules do not apply.
- Signing a paper that "waives" overtime; it generally does not remove your legal right.
- Using last year's numbers; rates change in January, July or September depending on the state.
- Budgeting rent from gross pay instead of take-home pay.
What next
Check your first January 2027 pay stub to make sure the raise was applied if you work in one of the 14 states. Looking for better-paying work? Start with our job search and resume guide. We will update this page once Arizona and Vermont publish their 2027 rates.
Frequently asked questions
What is the minimum wage in the US in 2026?
The federal minimum is $7.25 an hour, unchanged since July 24, 2009, but 30 states and DC set higher rates, topping out at $17.13 in Washington State and $18.40 in DC.
What is California's minimum wage in 2027?
$17.40 an hour from January 1, 2027, up from $16.90 in 2026. Some California cities and counties set higher local rates.
Which states raise the minimum wage on January 1, 2027?
Fourteen states have confirmed raises: CA, CO, CT, ME, MI, MN, MT, NE, NJ, OH, RI, SD, VA and WA. Arizona and Vermont had not published official 2027 rates we could confirm as of October 14, 2026, and New York stays the same.
What is the highest minimum wage in the US?
Among states, Washington ($17.73 in 2027). Among cities, Seattle ($21.30 in 2026, $22.14 in 2027). DC is $18.40 since July 1, 2026.
Am I owed minimum wage if I am undocumented?
Yes. The Wage and Hour Division enforces the law without regard to immigration status, and minimum wage and overtime are owed for all hours actually worked.
How do I report unpaid wages?
Call the Wage and Hour Division free at 1-866-487-9243 or your state labor agency, and ask for an interpreter if needed. Complaints are confidential; federal claims generally have a two-year limit, three if willful.
Official sources we reviewed
- US Department of Labor — State Minimum Wage Laws (updated July 1, 2026) ↗
- US Department of Labor — Minimum Wage ↗
- US Department of Labor — Minimum Wages for Tipped Employees ↗
- US Department of Labor WHD — Worker Rights ↗
- US Department of Labor WHD — How to File a Complaint ↗
- Washington L&I — Minimum Wage ↗
- California DIR — Minimum wage to increase to $17.40 on January 1, 2027 ↗
- Connecticut Governor — Minimum wage will increase to $17.48 on January 1, 2027 ↗
- Colorado CDLE — Minimum wage will increase to $15.71 in 2027 ↗
- Maine Department of Labor — Minimum wage to increase to $15.70 ↗
- New Jersey Department of Labor — 2027 minimum wage ↗
- Ohio Department of Commerce — 2027 Ohio Minimum Wage ↗
- Michigan LEO — Minimum Wage & Overtime ↗
- Michigan Legislature — MCL 123.1385 (local minimum wage preemption) ↗
- Minnesota DLI — Minimum wage in Minnesota ↗
- Montana DLI — State Minimum Wage ↗
- Nebraska Attorney General — Opinion 26-003 (2027 rate $15.26) ↗
- Rhode Island DLT — Minimum Wage ↗
- South Dakota DLR — Minimum Wage ↗
- Virginia Governor — Governor signs bills to raise state minimum wage ↗
- New York State DOL — Minimum Wage ↗
- FloridaCommerce — Florida Minimum Wage ↗
- Seattle Office of Labor Standards — Minimum Wage ↗