Minimum Wage by State 2026: Complete Rates, Map & Annual Salary
Every US state minimum wage rate with annual salary equivalents. Updated July 2026 from US DOL.
Federal Minimum Wage 2026
The federal minimum wage remains $7.25/hour, unchanged since July 2009 — now 17 years without an increase. At 40 hrs/wk, 52 wks: $15,080/year, $1,257/month, $290/week. Adjusted for inflation, the $7.25 rate has lost over 30% of its purchasing power since 2009. Despite numerous proposals (Fight for $15, Raise the Wage Act), Congress has not passed an increase. However, 30+ states and DC now have minimum wages above the federal floor.
State Minimum Wages (July 2026)
| State | Rate/hr | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| Washington | $17.13 | $35,630 |
| California | $16.90 | $35,152 |
| New York | $16.50 | $34,320 |
| Connecticut | $16.35 | $34,008 |
| Rhode Island | $16.00 | $33,280 |
| New Jersey | $15.49 | $32,219 |
| Arizona | $15.15 | $31,512 |
| Vermont | $14.42 | $29,994 |
| Alaska | $14.00 | $29,120 |
| Virginia | $12.77 | $26,562 |
| South Dakota | $11.85 | $24,648 |
| Arkansas | $11.00 | $22,880 |
| West Virginia | $8.75 | $18,200 |
| Federal | $7.25 | $15,080 |
Source: US DOL Wage & Hour Division, updated July 1, 2026.
States with No Minimum Wage Law
Five states have no state minimum wage law: Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, and Tennessee. Workers in these states covered by FLSA earn the federal $7.25. Georgia and Wyoming have state minimums below $7.25, but FLSA-covered employers must pay $7.25. Approximately 1.1 million workers earn at or below the federal minimum.
States with Auto-Indexing
Many states automatically adjust minimum wage annually based on CPI or a formula: Washington, Arizona, Colorado, Maine, Minnesota, Montana, Ohio, Oregon, South Dakota, Vermont, Alaska. This means these rates increase every January 1 without legislative action — protecting workers from inflation erosion that has plagued the federal rate.
Living Wage vs Minimum Wage
MIT Living Wage Calculator estimates a single adult needs $19-$25/hr in most US metros (before taxes). No state minimum meets this threshold. Even Washington's $17.13 falls short. For a family of 4 with one earner, the living wage is $30-$45/hr depending on location. The gap between minimum and living wage drives the ongoing policy debate around $20-$25/hr proposals in several states.
Key Takeaways
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