Statutory minimum wage in the United States (2026)
Last reviewed: 9 October 2026
In short: The federal Fair Labor Standards Act sets a minimum wage of $7.25 an hour, unchanged since 24 July 2009. It applies to covered employers in every state; each state may set a higher rate, and most do. State rates are in the state files.
| Rule | What applies |
|---|---|
| National statutory minimum wageEmployees | Yes [1] |
| Current adult minimum wage (gross)Employees | $7.25 per hour [2] |
| Age bands, reduced rates and exclusionsEmployees | A new employee under 20 years of age may be paid not less than $4.25 an hour during the first 90 consecutive calendar days of employment with an employer. [1] |
| Next scheduled changeEmployees | ⚠ Not yet verified |
| Amount from next change (gross)Employees | ⚠ Not yet verified |
Notes
- Federal rate for employees covered by the Fair Labor Standards Act. Where a state sets a higher rate, the higher rate applies (see the state file); the federal rate is the floor.
- No scheduled federal change was found; the federal rate changes only by Act of Congress.
Sources
- U.S. Government Publishing Office (govinfo): U.S.C. Title 29 - LABOR, section 206 (Minimum wage) (consulted 9 October 2026) · all sources
- U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division: History of Federal Minimum Wage Rates Under the Fair Labor Standards Act, 1938 - 2009 (consulted 9 October 2026) · all sources
Related pages
United States: rules by state or province
| State | National statutory minimum wage | Current adult minimum wage (gross) | Age bands, reduced rates and exclusions | Next scheduled change | Amount from next change (gross) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | No state minimum wage law | Federal $7.25 per hour | ⚠ Not yet verified | ⚠ Not yet verified | ⚠ Not yet verified |
| Alaska | Yes | $14.00 per hour | Under 18 part-time (max 30 h/week) exempt | 1 July 2027 | $15.00 per hour |
| Arizona | Yes | $15.15 per hour | ⚠ Not yet verified | 1 January 2027 | ⚠ Not yet verified |
| Arkansas | Yes | $11.00 per hour | ⚠ Not yet verified | ⚠ Not yet verified | ⚠ Not yet verified |
| California | Yes | $16.90 per hour | Minors receive the same minimum wage as adults. Employers may pay learners, regardless of age, at least 85 percent of the minimum wage (rounded to the nearest nickel) during their first 160 hours in an occupation in which they have no similar or related experience. | 1 January 2027 | $17.40 per hour |
| Colorado | Yes | $15.16 per hour (2026) | ⚠ Not yet verified | ⚠ Not yet verified | ⚠ Not yet verified |
| Connecticut | Yes | $16.94 per hour | Under 18: 85% for first 90 days | 1 January 2027 | $17.48 per hour |
| Delaware | Yes | $15.00 per hour | No youth rate; summer camp CITs exempt | ⚠ Not yet verified | ⚠ Not yet verified |
| District of Columbia | Yes | $18.40 per hour | ⚠ Not yet verified | By 1 July 2027 | ⚠ Not yet verified |
| Florida | Yes | $15.00 per hour (from 30 Sep 2026) | ⚠ Not yet verified | 1 January 2028 | ⚠ Not yet verified |
| Georgia | Yes | $5.15 per hour (state; federal $7.25) | ⚠ Not yet verified | ⚠ Not yet verified | ⚠ Not yet verified |
| Hawaii | Yes | $16.00 per hour | ⚠ Not yet verified | 1 January 2028 | $18.00 per hour |
| Idaho | Yes | $7.25 per hour | New hires under 20 years of age may be paid $4.25 per hour, but only for the first 90 consecutive calendar days of employment. | ⚠ Not yet verified | ⚠ Not yet verified |
| Illinois | Yes | $15.00 per hour (age 18+) | Under 18 (<650 h/year): $13.00 | ⚠ Not yet verified | ⚠ Not yet verified |
| Indiana | Yes | $7.25 per hour | Employers may pay $4.25 per hour to employees under 20 years of age for the first 90 consecutive calendar days after the employee is initially employed by the employer. | ⚠ Not yet verified | ⚠ Not yet verified |
| Iowa | Yes | $7.25 per hour (or federal if higher) | An employer is not required to pay the state hourly wage until the employee has completed 90 calendar days of employment; before that the employer must pay at least $6.35 per hour. | ⚠ Not yet verified | ⚠ Not yet verified |
| Kansas | Yes | $7.25 per hour (state law) | 18 and under part-time not covered | ⚠ Not yet verified | ⚠ Not yet verified |
| Kentucky | Yes | $7.25 per hour | ⚠ Not yet verified | ⚠ Not yet verified | ⚠ Not yet verified |
| Louisiana | No | Federal $7.25 per hour | ⚠ Not yet verified | ⚠ Not yet verified | ⚠ Not yet verified |
| Maine | Yes | $15.10 per hour | ⚠ Not yet verified | 1 January 2027 | $15.70 per hour |
| Maryland | Yes | $15.00 per hour | 85% of the rate under 18 | ⚠ Not yet verified | ⚠ Not yet verified |
| Massachusetts | Yes | $15.00 per hour | ⚠ Not yet verified | ⚠ Not yet verified | ⚠ Not yet verified |
| Michigan | Yes | $13.73 per hour | 85% under 18; $4.25 first 90 days under 20 | 1 January 2027 | $15.00 per hour |
| Minnesota | Yes | $11.41 per hour | $9.31 training wage, under 20, first 90 days | 1 January 2027 | $11.87 per hour |
| Mississippi | No | Federal $7.25 per hour | ⚠ Not yet verified | ⚠ Not yet verified | ⚠ Not yet verified |
| Missouri | Yes | $15.00 per hour | ⚠ Not yet verified | ⚠ Not yet verified | ⚠ Not yet verified |
| Montana | Yes | $10.85 per hour | No training wage; farm learners under 18 at 50% | 1 January 2027 | $11.20 per hour |
| Nebraska | Yes | $15.00 per hour | $13.50 aged 14-15; 75% for student-learners | 1 January 2027 | ⚠ Not yet verified |
| Nevada | Yes | $12.00 per hour | Under-18s in nonprofit after-school/summer jobs excluded | ⚠ Not yet verified | ⚠ Not yet verified |
| New Hampshire | Yes | $7.25 per hour | 16 and under: 75% of minimum wage | ⚠ Not yet verified | ⚠ Not yet verified |
| New Jersey | Yes | $15.92 per hour | Minors under 18 excluded in some sectors | 1 January 2027 | $16.48 per hour |
| New Mexico | Yes | $12.00 per hour | ⚠ Not yet verified | ⚠ Not yet verified | ⚠ Not yet verified |
| New York | Yes | Employees, NYC, Long Island, Westchester: $17.00 per hour (NYC, Long Island, Westchester) Employees, Rest of state: $16.00 per hour (rest of state) | ⚠ Not yet verified | ⚠ Not yet verified | ⚠ Not yet verified |
| North Carolina | Yes | $7.25 per hour | 90% for students, learners, apprentices | ⚠ Not yet verified | ⚠ Not yet verified |
| North Dakota | Yes (state law) | $7.25 per hour | None; vocational students 85% (licence) | ⚠ Not yet verified | ⚠ Not yet verified |
| Ohio | Yes (state law) | $11.00 per hour (larger employers) | Federal $7.25 for ages 14-15 and small businesses | 1 January 2027 | $11.40 per hour |
| Oklahoma | Yes (state law) | $7.25 per hour (larger employers) | No age bands; $2.00 per hour for small employers | ⚠ Not yet verified | ⚠ Not yet verified |
| Oregon | Yes (state law) | Employees: $15.55 per hour (standard rate) Employees, Portland metro: $16.80 per hour (Portland metro) Employees, Non-urban: $14.55 per hour (non-urban counties) | None; same rate for minors | 1 July 2027 | ⚠ Not yet verified |
| Pennsylvania | Yes (state law) | $7.25 per hour | ⚠ Not yet verified | ⚠ Not yet verified | ⚠ Not yet verified |
| Rhode Island | Yes (state law) | $16.00 per hour | Ages 14-15: 75% (up to 24 hours a week) | 1 January 2027 | $17.00 per hour |
| South Carolina | No state minimum wage | Federal $7.25 per hour | — | ⚠ Not yet verified | ⚠ Not yet verified |
| South Dakota | Yes (state law) | $11.85 per hour | Under 20: federal opportunity wage allowed | 1 January 2027 (annual CPI adjustment) | ⚠ Not yet verified |
| Tennessee | No state minimum wage | Federal $7.25 per hour | — | ⚠ Not yet verified | ⚠ Not yet verified |
| Texas | Yes (state law) | $7.25 per hour | Exempts some under-18s and under-20 students | ⚠ Not yet verified | ⚠ Not yet verified |
| Utah | Yes (state law) | $7.25 per hour | Commission may set minor/learner rates; FLSA jobs excluded | ⚠ Not yet verified | ⚠ Not yet verified |
| Vermont | Yes (state law) | $14.42 per hour | One rate; no age bands; students excluded | 1 January 2027 (annual adjustment) | ⚠ Not yet verified |
| Virginia | Yes (state law) | $12.77 per hour | Trainees (up to 90 days): 75% of state wage or federal | 1 January 2027 | $13.75 per hour |
| Washington | Yes (state law) | $17.13 per hour | Ages 14-15: at least 85% of minimum ($15.07 from 2027) | 1 January 2027 | $17.73 per hour |
| West Virginia | Yes (state law) | $8.75 per hour | $6.40 training wage under 20 for 90 days | ⚠ Not yet verified | ⚠ Not yet verified |
| Wisconsin | Yes (state law) | $7.25 per hour | Under 20: $5.90 for first 90 days | ⚠ Not yet verified | ⚠ Not yet verified |
| Wyoming | Yes (state law, $5.15) | $7.25 (federal; state basic rate $5.15) | Under 20: $4.25 for first 90 days | ⚠ Not yet verified | ⚠ Not yet verified |
General information, not legal advice. Rules change: check the official source before you fly or ride.