Minimum Wage by State 2026
Current rate for all 50 states + DC, including tipped-employee wages, with an earnings calculator.
Minimum Wage by State 2026
The federal minimum wage has been $7.25/hour since 2009 — but most states now set their own, higher rate, and an employer must pay whichever is highest among federal, state, and any city or county minimum that applies. This page shows the current 2026 rate for every state and DC, plus the separate (usually lower) rate that applies to tipped employees where a state allows it, and a simple calculator to turn an hourly rate into weekly, monthly, and annual earnings.
How the Tipped Minimum Wage Actually Works
In states with a “tip credit,” employers can pay tipped workers a lower direct cash wage — as low as the federal $2.13/hour in some states — as long as tips make up the rest of the difference to reach the full minimum wage. If a slow shift means tips don’t cover that gap, the employer is legally required to pay the difference; the tipped rate is a floor on cash wages, not a lower overall minimum. A number of states have eliminated the tip credit entirely, requiring the full state minimum wage in cash regardless of tips — this page notes which system each state uses.
Why Rates Change Every January
Many states now index their minimum wage to inflation, adjusting automatically on January 1 based on a cost-of-living formula written into the law — rather than requiring a new act of the legislature every time. That’s why a minimum wage figure from even a year ago can already be stale; the numbers on this page reflect what’s actually in effect for 2026, not last year’s rate.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the federal minimum wage?
$7.25 per hour, unchanged since 2009. States (and many cities) can set a higher minimum wage that applies instead — an employer must pay whichever is higher: federal, state, or local.
How does the tipped minimum wage work?
In states with a tip credit, employers can pay a lower direct cash wage to tipped employees, as long as tips bring the worker’s total hourly earnings up to at least the full minimum wage — if tips fall short, the employer must make up the difference. Several states require the full minimum wage in cash regardless of tips, with no tip credit at all.
Why does my city have a different minimum wage than my state?
Some cities and counties set their own minimum wage higher than their state’s, usually to reflect a higher local cost of living — Seattle and SeaTac in Washington are well-known examples. Where this is common in a state, this calculator notes it, but doesn’t track every city’s rate individually.
Minimum wage rates are set by state and local law and change periodically — verify the current rate with your state’s department of labor before relying on this for a specific pay decision. This page does not track every city or county minimum wage individually.
