19 states just raised their minimum wage. See which states pay the most.

• Minimum wage increased in 19 states on January 1, affecting over 8 million workers.
• Washington, D.C., leads with the highest minimum wage at $17.95 per hour in the United States.
• Twenty states still use the federal minimum wage of $7.25 or have no state minimum wage.

Minimum wage is up in 19 states starting January 1, affecting over 8 million workers.

Washington, D.C., has the highest minimum wage in the US at $17.95 per hour, while 20 states still either mandate $7.25 or default to the federal line.

Business Insider listed the minimum wage in each state, from highest to lowest. We bolded the states where wages increased starting January 1, 2026.

$17.00/hour or more

Washington, D.C.: $17.95

Washington: $17.13 (increased from $16.66)

New York: $17 (increased from $16.50)

*The minimum wage applies only in New York City, Nassau County, Suffolk County, and Westchester County.

$16/hour — $17/hour

Connecticut: $16.94 (increased from $16.35)

California: $16.90 (increased from $16.50)

Hawaii: $16.00 (increased from $14)

Oregon: $16.30 or $15.05 or $14.05

*The standard minimum wage in Oregon is $15.05 per hour. The minimum wage in the Portland metro area is $16.30 per hour, and the minimum wage in nonurban counties is $14.05 per hour.

New York: $16.00 (increased from $15.50)

*The minimum wage outside New York City, Nassau County, Suffolk County, and Westchester County.

Rhode Island: $16.00 (increased from $15)

$15/hour — $16/hour

New Jersey: $15.92 (increased from $15.49)

*The minimum wage for employers who employ fewer than six people and employees engaged in seasonal employment in New Jersey is $15.23 per hour.

Colorado: $15.16 (increased from $14.81)

Arizona: $15.15 (increased from $14.70)

Maine: $15.10 (increased from $14.65)

Delaware: $15.00

Illinois: $15.00

Massachusetts: $15.00

Maryland: $15.00

Missouri: $15.00 (increased from $13.75)

Nebraska: $15.00 (increased from $13.50)

$10/hour — $15/hour

Vermont: $14.42 (increased from $14.01)

Florida: $14.00

Michigan: $13.73 (increased from $12.48)

Alaska: $13.00

Virginia: $12.77 (increased from $12.41)

New Mexico: $12.00

Nevada: $12.00

South Dakota: $11.85 (increased from $11.50)

Minnesota: $11.41 (increased from $11.13)

Ohio: $11.00 (increased from $10.70)

*Ohio employers with annual gross receipts under $405,000 must pay no less than $7.25 per hour.

Arkansas: $11.00

Montana: $10.85 (increased from $10.55)

*A Montana business not covered by the federal Fair Labor Standards Act whose gross annual sales are $110,000 or less may pay $4.00 per hour.

$7.25/hour – $10/hour

West Virginia: $8.75

Iowa: $7.25

Idaho: $7.25

Indiana: $7.25

Kansas: $7.25

Kentucky: $7.25

North Carolina: $7.25

North Dakota: $7.25

New Hampshire: $7.25

Oklahoma: $7.25

Pennsylvania: $7.25

Texas: $7.25

Utah: $7.25

Wisconsin: $7.25

No minimum wage or under $7.25/hour

Alabama

Georgia

Louisiana

Mississippi

South Carolina

Tennessee

Wyoming

Source: 19 states just raised their minimum wage. See which states pay the most.