2026 State and Local Minimum Wage Increases

Nextep Blog - Minimum Wage Updates

State Minimum Wage Increases

Several states and local jurisdictions will increase their minimum wage rates on January 1, 2026. Below is a summary of these changes and guidelines to help you comply with your minimum wage requirements.

Some states adjust wages annually for inflation, while others make mid-year changes. Be sure to verify pay rates with your state or local Department of Labor. As a reminder, when state or local law differs from federal law, you must use the law that benefits the employee the most.

Need a printable download? Get it here!

States with a 2026 minimum wage increase are highlighted.

State2026 Minimum Wage (per hour)
Alabama$7.25 (Federal Rate)
Alaska$13.00 (Increases to $14.00 July 1, 2026)
Arizona$15.15
Arkansas$11.00
California$16.90
Colorado$15.16
Connecticut$16.94
Delaware$15.00
Florida$14.00 (Increases to $15.00 Sept 30, 2026)
Georgia$7.25 (Federal Rate)
Hawaii$16.00
Idaho$7.25 (Federal Rate)
Illinois$15.00
Indiana$7.25 (Federal Rate)
Iowa$7.25 (Federal Rate)
Kansas$7.25 (Federal Rate)
Kentucky$7.25 (Federal Rate)
Louisiana$7.25 (Federal Rate)
Maine$15.10
Maryland$15.00
Massachusetts$15.00
Michigan$13.73
Minnesota$11.41 | $9.31 (90-day training for ages under 20)
Mississippi$7.25 (Federal Rate)
Missouri$15.00
Montana$10.85
Nebraska$15.00
Nevada$12.00
New Hampshire$7.25 (Federal Rate)
New Jersey$15.92 (6+ Employees) | $15.23 (<6)
New Mexico$12.00
New York$16.00 | $17.00 (NYC, Nasau, Suffolk, Westchester)
North Carolina$7.25 (Federal Rate)
North Dakota$7.25 (Federal Rate)
Ohio$11.00 (Gross receipts of $405k+) | $7.25 (Others)
Oklahoma$7.25 (Federal Rate)
Oregon$15.05 (Standard) | $16.30 (Portland) | $14.05 (Non-Urban)
Pennsylvania$7.25 (Federal Rate)
Rhode Island$16.00
South Carolina$7.25 (Federal Rate)
South Dakota$11.85
Tennessee$7.25 (Federal Rate)
Texas$7.25 (Federal Rate)
Utah$7.25 (Federal Rate)
Vermont$14.42
Virginia$12.77
Washington$17.13
West Virginia$8.75
Wisconsin$7.25 (Federal Rate)
Wyoming$7.25 (Federal Rate)

Local Minimum Wage Increases

Several cities and counties will also increase their minimum wage effective January 1, 2026. Here’s a rundown.

Note: This is not an exhaustive list. Be sure to check with your local jurisdictions to verify info.

City or County2026 Minimum Wage (per hour)
AZ: Flagstaff$18.35
AZ: Tuscon$15.45
CA: Belmont$18.95
CA: Burlingame$17.86
CA: Cupertino$18.70
CA: Daly City$17.50
CA: East Palo Alto$17.90
CA: El Cerrito$18.82
CA: Foster City$17.85
CA: Half Moon Bay$17.91
CA: Hayward$17.79 (26+ Employees) | $16.90 (<26)
CA: Los Altos$18.70
CA: Menlo Park$17.55
CA: Mountain View$19.70
CA: Novato$17.73 (100+ Employees) | $17.46 (26-99) | $16.90 (<25)
CA: Palo Alto$18.70
CA: Petaluma$18.31
CA: Redwood City$18.65
CA: Richmond$19.18 | $17.68 (If employer pays $1.50+ per hour to benefits)
CA: San Carlos$17.75
CA: San Diego$17.75
CA: S San Francisco (City)$18.15
CA: San Jose$18.45
CA: San Mateo (City)$18.60
CA: San Mateo County (Unincorporated)$17.95
CA: Santa Clara$18.70
CA: Santa Rosa$18.21
CA: Sonoma$18.47 (26+ Employees) | $17.38 (<25)
CA: Sunnyvale$19.50
CA: West Hollywood$20.25 (Non-hotel workers) | $20.22 (Hotel workers)
CO: Boulder (City)$16.82
CO: Boulder (Unincorporated)$16.82
CO: Denver$19.29
CO: Edgewater$18.17
ME: Portland$16.75
ME: Rockland$16.00
MD: Montgomery County$17.65 (51+ Employees) | $16.00 (11-50) | $15.50 (<10)
MD: Howard County$16.00 (15+ Employees) | $15.50 (<15)
MN: Minneapolis$16.37
MN: St. Paul$16.37 (101+ Employees)
NM: Las Cruces$13.01
NM: Santa Fe (City)$17.50
NY: New York City, Nassau,Suffolk, Westchester Counties$17.00
WA: Bellingham$19.13
WA: Everett$18.77 (15-499 Employees, or <15 and gross of $2 million+)
WA: King County (Unincorporated)$19.82 (16-499 Employees, or <15 and gross of $2 million+) | $18.32 (<15 and gross <$2million
WA: Renton$20.57 (15-500 Employees or <15 and gross of $2 million+)
WA: Seattle$21.30
WA: SeaTac$20.74 (Hospitality & transport)
WA: Tukwila$21.65

For more information on these changes, please contact Nextep at 888-811-5150, or email your HR Team at hr@nextep.com. 


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