If you're earning minimum wage in California, you're making $16.50 an hour. Cross the border into Nevada, and you're looking at $12.00. Meanwhile, workers in Georgia are technically covered by a state minimum of just $5.15—though federal law bumps that up to $7.25. The patchwork of minimum wage by state in 2026 is more confusing than ever, and understanding exactly what you'll earn (and keep after taxes) requires cutting through a lot of noise.
Whether you're job hunting across state lines, negotiating a raise, or just trying to budget your monthly expenses, knowing your state's minimum wage—and how it compares to others—is essential information. Let's break down every state's current rate, upcoming changes, and what minimum wage actually means for your take-home pay.
The Federal Minimum Wage: Still Stuck at $7.25
Before diving into state-specific rates, let's address the elephant in the room: the federal minimum wage has been $7.25 per hour since July 2009. That's over 16 years without an increase, making it the longest period without a federal minimum wage hike in U.S. history.
Here's what that means in practice:
- Workers in states without their own minimum wage laws (or with lower state minimums) earn $7.25 per hour
- A full-time worker at federal minimum wage earns approximately $15,080 per year before taxes
- After federal income tax, Social Security, and Medicare, that worker takes home roughly $13,900 annually
- Adjusted for inflation, $7.25 today has the purchasing power of about $5.20 compared to 2009 dollars
The good news? Thirty states plus Washington D.C. have enacted minimum wages higher than the federal floor, with several scheduling automatic increases throughout 2026 and beyond.
Complete Minimum Wage by State 2026 Table
The following table shows every state's minimum wage as of January 2026, including scheduled mid-year increases, tipped minimum wages, and the annual full-time equivalent earnings. States are listed alphabetically for easy reference.
| State | 2026 Minimum Wage | Tipped Minimum | Annual Full-Time (2,080 hrs) | Scheduled Increase |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $7.25 (Federal) | $2.13 | $15,080 | None |
| Alaska | $11.91 | $11.91 (No tip credit) | $24,773 | Indexed to inflation |
| Arizona | $14.70 | $11.70 | $30,576 | Indexed to inflation |
| Arkansas | $11.00 | $2.63 | $22,880 | None |
| California | $16.50 | $16.50 (No tip credit) | $34,320 | Indexed to inflation |
| Colorado | $14.81 | $11.79 | $30,805 | Indexed to inflation |
| Connecticut | $16.35 | $6.38 | $34,008 | Indexed to inflation |
| Delaware | $15.00 | $2.23 | $31,200 | None |
| Florida | $14.00 | $10.98 | $29,120 | $15.00 on 9/30/2026 |
| Georgia | $7.25 (Federal) | $2.13 | $15,080 | None |
| Hawaii | $16.00 | $14.00 | $33,280 | $18.00 on 1/1/2028 |
| Idaho | $7.25 (Federal) | $3.35 | $15,080 | None |
| Illinois | $15.00 | $9.00 | $31,200 | Indexed to inflation |
| Indiana | $7.25 (Federal) | $2.13 | $15,080 | None |
| Iowa | $7.25 (Federal) | $4.35 | $15,080 | None |
| Kansas | $7.25 (Federal) | $2.13 | $15,080 | None |
| Kentucky | $7.25 (Federal) | $2.13 | $15,080 | None |
| Louisiana | $7.25 (Federal) | $2.13 | $15,080 | None |
| Maine | $14.65 | $7.33 | $30,472 | Indexed to inflation |
| Maryland | $15.00 | $3.63 | $31,200 | None |
| Massachusetts | $15.00 | $6.75 | $31,200 | Indexed to inflation |
| Michigan | $10.56 | $4.01 | $21,965 | Under review |
| Minnesota | $11.13 | $11.13 (No tip credit) | $23,150 | Indexed to inflation |
| Mississippi | $7.25 (Federal) | $2.13 | $15,080 | None |
| Missouri | $13.75 | $6.88 | $28,600 | $15.00 on 1/1/2027 |
| Montana | $10.55 | $10.55 (No tip credit) | $21,944 | Indexed to inflation |
| Nebraska | $13.50 | $2.13 | $28,080 | $15.00 on 1/1/2027 |
| Nevada | $12.00 | $12.00 (No tip credit) | $24,960 | None |
| New Hampshire | $7.25 (Federal) | $3.27 | $15,080 | None |
| New Jersey | $15.49 | $5.62 | $32,219 | Indexed to inflation |
| New Mexico | $12.00 | $3.00 | $24,960 | None |
| New York | $16.50 | $11.00 | $34,320 | Indexed to inflation |
| North Carolina | $7.25 (Federal) | $2.13 | $15,080 | None |
| North Dakota | $7.25 (Federal) | $4.86 | $15,080 | None |
| Ohio | $10.70 | $5.35 | $22,256 | Indexed to inflation |
| Oklahoma | $7.25 (Federal) | $2.13 | $15,080 | None |
| Oregon | $15.95 | $15.95 (No tip credit) | $33,176 | Indexed to inflation |
| Pennsylvania | $7.25 (Federal) | $2.83 | $15,080 | None |
| Rhode Island | $15.00 | $3.89 | $31,200 | None |
| South Carolina | $7.25 (Federal) | $2.13 | $15,080 | None |
| South Dakota | $11.50 | $5.75 | $23,920 | Indexed to inflation |
| Tennessee | $7.25 (Federal) | $2.13 | $15,080 | None |
| Texas | $7.25 (Federal) | $2.13 | $15,080 | None |
| Utah | $7.25 (Federal) | $2.13 | $15,080 | None |
| Vermont | $14.01 | $7.01 | $29,141 | Indexed to inflation |
| Virginia | $12.41 | $2.13 | $25,813 | Under review |
| Washington | $16.66 | $16.66 (No tip credit) | $34,653 | Indexed to inflation |
| Washington D.C. | $17.50 | $10.00 | $36,400 | Indexed to inflation |
| West Virginia | $8.75 | $2.62 | $18,200 | None |
| Wisconsin | $7.25 (Federal) | $2.33 | $15,080 | None |
| Wyoming | $7.25 (Federal) | $2.13 | $15,080 | None |
States with the Highest Minimum Wages in 2026
If you're looking for the highest minimum wage by state, these locations lead the pack:
- Washington D.C. — $17.50 per hour ($36,400 annually)
- Washington State — $16.66 per hour ($34,653 annually)
- California — $16.50 per hour ($34,320 annually)
- New York — $16.50 per hour ($34,320 annually)
- Connecticut — $16.35 per hour ($34,008 annually)
Notice a pattern? The highest minimum wage states tend to have higher costs of living, particularly in housing. A $16.50 hourly wage in California doesn't stretch nearly as far as $11.50 in South Dakota when you factor in rent, groceries, and transportation costs.
Scheduled Minimum Wage Increases for 2026 and Beyond
Several states have minimum wage increase schedules locked in through legislation or voter-approved measures. Here are the key changes coming in 2026:
Florida continues its march toward $15.00, reaching that milestone on September 30, 2026. The state approved a constitutional amendment in 2020 that gradually increases the minimum wage by $1.00 each year.
Missouri voters passed Proposition A in 2024, setting the state on track for $15.00 by January 1, 2027. The 2026 rate of $13.75 represents a significant jump from previous years.
Nebraska follows a similar trajectory, reaching $15.00 on January 1, 2027, with 2026 serving as the penultimate step at $13.50.
Additionally, 19 states have automatic cost-of-living adjustments (indexed to inflation), meaning their minimum wages increase annually without requiring new legislation. This includes economic powerhouses like California, New York, and Washington.
Understanding Tipped Minimum Wage in 2026
The tipped minimum wage remains one of the most misunderstood aspects of wage law. In most states, employers can pay tipped employees—servers, bartenders, valets—a lower base wage, with the expectation that tips make up the difference.
Here's how it works:
- The federal tipped minimum wage is $2.13 per hour
- If tips plus the tipped wage don't equal the regular minimum wage, employers must make up the difference
- Seven states (Alaska, California, Minnesota, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington) prohibit tip credits entirely—tipped workers earn the full minimum wage plus tips
For restaurant workers, this distinction matters enormously. A server in California earning $16.50 per hour plus tips takes home significantly more than a server in Texas earning $2.13 plus tips, even if their tip income is identical.
What Minimum Wage Actually Looks Like After Taxes
Gross pay and net pay are two very different numbers. Let's look at what a full-time minimum wage worker actually takes home in several states:
California ($16.50/hour):
- Gross annual: $34,320
- Federal income tax: ~$2,400
- Social Security (6.2%): ~$2,128
- Medicare (1.45%): ~$498
- California state tax: ~$680
- Net take-home: approximately $28,614
Texas ($7.25/hour):
- Gross annual: $15,080
- Federal income tax: ~$0 (below standard deduction)
- Social Security (6.2%): ~$935
- Medicare (1.45%): ~$219
- State income tax: $0 (Texas has no state income tax)
- Net take-home: approximately $13,926
The difference is stark: a Californian earning minimum wage takes home roughly double what a Texan does—but California's higher cost of living eats into much of that advantage.
How Minimum Wage Impacts Your Financial Planning
Whether you're earning minimum wage temporarily or long-term, understanding your actual take-home pay helps you budget realistically. Here are some practical considerations:
- Housing costs — Financial experts recommend spending no more than 30% of gross income on housing. At federal minimum wage, that's just $377 per month.
- Tax credits — Low-income workers may qualify for the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), potentially worth up to $7,830 for workers with children in 2026.
- Benefits cliff — Earning slightly more could disqualify you from certain benefits like Medicaid or SNAP, sometimes resulting in less total income.
Knowing your state minimum wage is just the starting point. The real question is: what do you actually keep after federal taxes, state taxes, Social Security, and Medicare deductions?
Use the free AfterTaxesSalary.com calculator to see exactly what your salary looks like after taxes in your state.
Sources
- U.S. Department of Labor — State Minimum Wage Laws
- U.S. Department of Labor — Minimum Wages for Tipped Employees
- Internal Revenue Service — Social Security and Medicare Withholding Rates
- Bureau of Labor Statistics — Characteristics of Minimum Wage Workers
- National Conference of State Legislatures — State Minimum Wages
- State labor department websites for individual state minimum wage laws and scheduled increases