Minimum Wage by State

The highest minimum wages are concentrated in the West and Northeast, led by District of Columbia, Washington and Connecticut. Many of these states index their minimum to inflation, so the rate rises automatically each year.

The federal minimum wage has been stuck at $7.25 since July 2009 — the longest stretch without an increase since it was created in 1938. Adjusted for inflation, it now buys far less than it did then, which is why so many states and cities have set their own higher rates.

In the 20 states still at $7.25, some have no state minimum-wage law at all (so the federal rate applies), while a few have a state minimum below $7.25 that the federal rate overrides. Where state and federal rates differ, employers must pay the higher of the two.

Many cities and counties set minimums above their state — Seattle, Denver, and much of California, for example, exceed the state figure. Some states also phase in increases mid-year rather than on January 1, so a few 2026 rates change during the year.

Tipped workers have a separate, lower cash minimum in most states (as low as $2.13 federally), provided tips bring total pay to at least the regular minimum. The figures above are the standard, non-tipped rates.