A brand new yr has introduced a brand new pay fee for greater than 8.3 million Individuals.
The minimum wage goes up in 19 states this week, with employees in Hawaii now incomes as a lot as $2 extra an hour. Collectively, these pay will increase will enhance paychecks by a complete of $5 billion, in response to the Economic Policy Institute, a nonprofit, nonpartisan assume tank in Washington, D.C.
Whereas the federal minimal wage of $7.25 per hour hasn’t budged in practically 20 years, and nonetheless applies in eight states, many states and cities have steadily been rising their minimal wages to nicely over double that quantity. Seattle’s minimal wage, at $21.30 per hour, is now practically triple that federal threshold.
As is the case with Seattle, 47 cities and counties across the nation have additionally elevated their minimal wages, efficient January 1. Right here’s a take a look at what’s modified.
PAY IS GOING UP MOST IN HAWAII
Hawaii leads the 19 states with the most important pay enhance for employees this yr, as its minimal wage has jumped to $16 per hour, up from $14 beforehand. And greater than 21% of its workforce will profit from this new laws, in response to the Financial Coverage Institute.
However not all pay will increase are alike. A number of states have elevated their minimal wages by lower than 50 cents an hour—an quantity that provides as much as a distinction of solely a number of hundred {dollars} per yr in gross earnings. Minnesota employees are solely seeing a 28 cent hourly enhance, for instance.
Arizona 2026 minimal wage: $15.15, up 45 cents from $14.70 in 2025
California 2026 minimal wage: $16.90, up 40 cents from $16.50 in 2025
Colorado 2026 minimal wage: $15.16, up 35 cents from $14.81 in 2025
Connecticut 2026 minimal wage: $16.94, up 59 cents from $16.35 in 2025
Hawaii 2026 minimal wage: $16, up $2 from $14 in 2025
Maine 2026 minimal wage: $15.10, up 45 cents from $14.65 in 2025
Michigan 2026 minimal wage: $13.73, up $1.25 from $12.48 in 2025
Minnesota 2026 minimal wage: $11.41, up 28 cents from $11.13 in 2025
Missouri 2026 minimal wage: $15, up $1.25 from $13.75 in 2025
Montana 2026 minimal wage: $10.85, up 30 cents from $10.55 in 2025
Nebraska 2026 minimal wage: $15, up $1.50 from $13.50 in 2025
New Jersey 2026 minimal wage: $15.92, up 43 cents from $15.49 in 2025
New York 2026 minimal wage: $16, up 50 cents from $15.50 in 2025
Ohio 2026 minimal wage: $11, up 30 cents from $10.70 in 2025
Rhode Island 2026 minimal wage: $16, up $1 from $15 in 2025
South Dakota 2026 minimal wage: $11.85, up 35 cents from $11.50 in 2025
Vermont 2026 minimal wage: $14.42, up 41 cents from $14.01 in 2025
Virginia 2026 minimal wage: $12.77, up 36 cents from $12.41 in 2025
Washington 2026 minimal wage: $17.13, up 47 cents from $16.66 in 2025
WASHINGTON CITIES LEAD WITH HIGHEST PAY
The $21.30 per hour minimal wage that went into impact in Seattle this week isn’t even the best in Washington—the pay in a number of localities are even larger. In Tukwila and Burien, two Seattle suburbs, sure employers should pay employees a minimal of $21.65 and $21.63, respectively, in 2026.
Whereas some cities, like San Francisco and Los Angeles, up to date their minimal wage thresholds on the midyear mark, most go for pay adjustments to coincide with the calendar change. Some localities explicitly tie their will increase to inflation, as measured by the buyer worth index that grew at a less-than-3% fee in 2025.
Employees in main metropolitan areas can probably earn a number of {dollars} greater than the state’s minimal wage. Employers within the following cities should pay their employees extra this week.
New York Metropolis, Lengthy Island, and Westchester 2026 minimal wage: $17, up $1 from $16 in 2025
San Jose 2026 minimal wage: $18.45, up 50 cents from $18.95 in 2025
Denver 2026 minimal wage: $19.29, up 48 cents from $18.81 in 2025
Minneapolis 2026 minimal wage: $16.37, up 40 cents from $15.97 in 2025
