The federal floor
The federal minimum wage has been $7.25 since 2009. States without their own minimum wage law — among them Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, and Tennessee — default to it, and about twenty states in total still sit at $7.25. Anywhere a state sets a higher rate, the higher rate wins.
2026 state minimum wages (selected, effective January 1, 2026)
| Jurisdiction | Hourly minimum |
|---|---|
| Washington, D.C. | $18.40 |
| Washington | $17.13 |
| California | $16.90 |
| New York (NYC & Long Island) | $17.00 |
| New York (rest of state) | $16.50 |
| Connecticut | $16.94 |
| New Jersey | $15.49 |
| Colorado | $15.16 |
| Arizona | $15.15 |
| Delaware | $15.00 |
| Massachusetts | $15.00 |
| Nebraska | $15.00 |
| Virginia | $12.77 |
| Montana | $10.85 |
| West Virginia | $8.75 |
| Federal default (~20 states) | $7.25 |
Rates shown effective January 1, 2026. Many cities and counties set higher local minimums (roughly 49 did for 2026). The authoritative, continuously updated table is the U.S. Department of Labor's State Minimum Wage Laws page.
What minimum wage means per year
At the standard 2,080-hour work year: California's $16.90 floor equals $35,152 gross; the federal $7.25 equals $15,080. Convert any rate to yearly, monthly, and weekly pay on the hourly to salary calculator — then see the real take-home on your state's paycheck calculator.