Minimum wage by state: what is the rate where you hire?
Jurisdiction and date: US federal and state rules. The table below is copied from the US Department of Labor (DOL) state table, which shows "last updated July 1, 2026." Accessed 31 October 2026.
The federal minimum wage is $7.25 per hour. Where a state sets a higher rate, the higher rate is what an employer covered by both laws generally has to pay. The DOL table below lists every state row it shows. City and county rates can be higher still, so a state figure is only the starting point.
At a glance
- Federal floor: $7.25 per hour.
- Several states have no state minimum wage law, so the federal rate applies.
- Many states have a rate above $15.00 in the DOL table. Check the DOL page for the newest version.
- Local (city or county) minimums can exceed the state rate and are not in the table.
- Some states set lower rates for minors, students or trainees. The DOL table does not show them.
State minimum wage table (US DOL, page updated July 1, 2026)
| State or territory | Basic minimum rate per hour | Notes shown by the DOL |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | No state law | Federal $7.25 applies |
| Alaska | $14.00 | |
| American Samoa | Special rates | See the DOL's separate page |
| Arizona | $15.15 | |
| Arkansas | $11.00 | 4 or more employees |
| California | $16.90 | |
| Colorado | $15.16 | |
| Connecticut | $16.94 | |
| Delaware | $15.00 | Federal rate applies if higher |
| District of Columbia | $18.40 | |
| Florida | $14.00 (DOL table); $15.00 from Sep 30, 2026 | See the Florida note below |
| Georgia | $5.15 | 6 or more employees; federal $7.25 applies to FLSA-covered employers |
| Guam | $9.25 | |
| Hawaii | $16.00 | |
| Idaho | $7.25 | |
| Illinois | $15.00 | 4 or more employees, excluding family members |
| Indiana | $7.25 | 2 or more employees |
| Iowa | $7.25 | |
| Kansas | $7.25 | |
| Kentucky | $7.25 | |
| Louisiana | No state law | Federal $7.25 applies |
| Maine | $15.10 | |
| Maryland | $15.00 | |
| Massachusetts | $15.00 | |
| Michigan | $13.73 | Scheduled to rise to $15.00 on January 1, 2027; 2 or more employees |
| Minnesota | $11.41 | |
| Mississippi | No state law | Federal $7.25 applies |
| Missouri | $15.00 | |
| Montana | $10.85 | Businesses with gross annual sales over $110,000 |
| Montana | $4.00 | Gross annual sales of $110,000 or less and not FLSA-covered |
| Nebraska | $15.00 | 4 or more employees |
| Nevada | $12.00 | |
| New Hampshire | $7.25 | |
| New Jersey | $15.92 | Fewer than 6 employees and seasonal workers: $15.23 |
| New Mexico | $12.00 | |
| New York | $17.00 | New York City, Nassau, Suffolk and Westchester counties |
| New York | $16.00 | Rest of state |
| North Carolina | $7.25 | |
| North Dakota | $7.25 | |
| Northern Mariana Islands | $7.25 | |
| Ohio | $11.00 | Gross receipts of $405,000 or more |
| Ohio | $7.25 | Gross receipts under $405,000 |
| Oklahoma | $7.25 | 10 or more full-time employees at one location, or sales over $100,000 |
| Oklahoma | $2.00 | All other employers |
| Oregon | $15.55 | Standard rate |
| Oregon | $16.80 | Portland metro area |
| Oregon | $14.55 | Non-urban counties |
| Pennsylvania | $7.25 | |
| Puerto Rico | $10.50 | |
| Rhode Island | $16.00 | |
| South Carolina | No state law | Federal $7.25 applies |
| South Dakota | $11.85 | |
| Tennessee | No state law | Federal $7.25 applies |
| Texas | $7.25 | |
| Utah | $7.25 | |
| Vermont | $14.42 | |
| Virgin Islands | $10.50 | |
| Virginia | $12.77 | |
| Washington | $17.13 | |
| West Virginia | $8.75 | 6 or more employees at one location |
| Wisconsin | $7.25 | |
| Wyoming | $5.15 | Federal $7.25 applies to FLSA-covered employers |
Figures are copied exactly from the DOL table. The DOL page does not show a separate effective date for each state. It states that the Michigan rate is scheduled to rise on January 1, 2027.
Check the date before you rely on a figure
A table dated July 1, 2026 can be out of date by the time you read it. State rates often change on January 1 or on another date set by state law, and the DOL updates its table on its own schedule. Florida is an example: the DOL table lists $14.00, but Article X, Section 24(c) of the Florida Constitution set the rate at $15.00 per hour from September 30, 2026.
Two state agencies we opened show the same pattern. The New York State Department of Labor page shows a table headed "Minimum Wage as of 01/01/2027" with $17.00 for New York City and Long Island and Westchester, and $16.00 for the rest of the state. The Washington Department of Labor & Industries page says the 2026 minimum wage in Washington is $17.13 per hour, and that the new rate is announced on September 30 and takes effect January 1. Its page also links a 2027 announcement we did not open, so check it if you are setting pay for 2027.
Local rates can be higher
Both the DOL page and the state pages we opened note that some localities set higher minimums. The Washington L&I page says some local jurisdictions have higher minimum wage rates and different labor rules than the state. Always check the city and county where the employee works, not only the state.
How to use this table when you hire
- Find the work location, not the company address.
- Check the state row, then check the city and county.
- Pay the highest applicable rate: federal, state or local.
- Record the date you checked, and set a reminder for January 1 and for the date your state changes rates.
- Put the pay in the job posting. Many states also require pay ranges, see pay transparency laws by state.
What about tipped workers and minors?
The DOL table is for the basic rate. Tipped employees, minors, students and trainees can have different rules, and the DOL page directs readers to state labor offices for them. Do not apply a lower rate without reading the state rule.
FAQ
Does the federal minimum wage apply if my state has none? Yes. For states shown as "No state law," the DOL table states that the federal $7.25 applies.
Which rate applies if the state and federal rates differ? Generally the higher one, for employees covered by both. Check your state labor department for exceptions.
Why is my state row different from the state website? The DOL table has its own update date. Use the state's official page when it is newer, and cite its date.
Where do I look up state-by-state hiring rules beyond wages? See the employment laws by state hub.
Next step: read the page for your state in the employment laws by state hub, then post the role with a compliant pay range.
Sources
- US Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division, State Minimum Wage Laws (updated July 1, 2026) - https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/minimum-wage/state (accessed 31 October 2026)
- New York State Department of Labor, Minimum Wage - https://dol.ny.gov/minimum-wage-0 (accessed 31 October 2026)
- Washington State Department of Labor & Industries, Minimum Wage - https://www.lni.wa.gov/workers-rights/wages/minimum-wage/ (accessed 31 October 2026)
This is general information, not legal, tax or immigration advice. Rules change and your situation may differ. Consult a licensed attorney or qualified adviser.