As of January 1, 2026, the minimum wage increased in 19 states and 49 cities. Later in the year, there will be additional increases in four states (California, Oregon, Minnesota, and Washington) and 22 cities, with some cities even seeing two increases in the same year.
According to a new analysis by the National Employment Law Project (NELP), the increases scheduled for 2026 represent an important step toward an economy with more decent jobs and livable wages.
States reaching or exceeding $15 per hour in 2026
In several places, the minimum wage will reach $15, $17, or more per hour, including California, New York, New Jersey, Oregon, Washington, Connecticut, Hawaii, Florida, Missouri, Nebraska, Rhode Island, and Alaska.
States with no increases during 2026
Not all states will follow this trend. Eight states—Arkansas, Delaware, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Mexico, and West Virginia—do not plan to raise their minimum wage in 2026, even though they are already above the federal wage of $7.25 per hour.
In addition, 20 other states, mostly in the South, will also not raise their minimum wages because they do not have their own state laws or use the federal wage as a benchmark. This situation disproportionately affects the Black working population, which is largely concentrated in this region.
The legacy of the fight for $15
Since 2012, at least 15 states have passed laws to move toward a minimum wage of $15 per hour or more, as part of the movement known as Fight for $15.
Other states, such as Arizona, Colorado, Maine, Oregon, and Washington, started with lower goals, but thanks to adjustments for inflation, they have exceeded $15 for many workers.
In total, 20 states have already reached or are on track to reach a minimum wage of $15 or more.
Special wages for home care workers
In some places, there are special minimum wages for certain caregiving and healthcare jobs. For example, in California, there is a minimum wage for healthcare workers that depends on the type of employer.
In New York, starting January 1, 2026, home care workers have a minimum wage of $19.65 per hour for work performed in New York City, Long Island, and Westchester County, and $18.65 per hour in the rest of the state.
In New Jersey, the minimum wage will reach $18.92 per hour for long-term care workers.
This is how salaries will be in all states:
| State | State minimum wage 2026 | Cities with the highest salaries in 2026 |
| Alabama | $7.25 (federal) | |
| Alaska | $13.00 (beginning of 2026) It will increase to $14.00 on July 7, 2026. |
|
| Arizona | $15.15 | Flagstaff: $18.35
Tucson: $15.45 |
| Arkansas | $11.00 | |
| California | $16.90 | Most cities and counties in California have a minimum wage that is higher than the state minimum wage, with rates ranging from $17+ to $19.50 |
| Colorado | $15.16 | Denver: $19.29
Boulder County: $16.82 Edgewater: $18.17 |
| Connecticut | $16.94 | |
| Delaware | $15.00 (no increase in 2026) | |
| Florida | $14.00 (beginning of 2026)
It will increase to $15.00 on September 30th, 2026. |
|
| Georgia | $7.25 applies to employees covered by FLSA | |
| Hawaii | $16.00 | |
| Idaho | $7.25 (federal) | |
| Illinois | $15.00 (no increse in 2026) | |
| Indiana | $7.25 (federal) | |
| Iowa | $7.25 (federal) | |
| Kansas | $7.25 (federal) | |
| Kentucky | $7.25 (federal) | |
| Louisiana | $7.25 (federal) | |
| Maine | $15.10 | Portland: $16.75
Rockland: $16.00 |
| Maryland | $15.00 (no increase in 2026) | Howard County: $15.50 (less than 15 employees) |
| Massachusetts | $15.00 (no increase in 2026) | |
| Michigan | $13.73 | |
| Minnesota | $11.41 | Minneapolis: $16.37
Saint Paul:$16.37 (101 or more employees) |
| Misisipi | $7.25 (federal) | |
| Missouri | $15.00 | |
| Montana | $10.85 | |
| Nebraska | $15.00 | |
| Nevada | $12.00 (no increase in 2026) | |
| New Hampshire | $7.25 (federal) | |
| New Jersey | $15.92 | |
| New Mexico | $12.00 | Las Cruces: $13.01 |
| New York | $16.00 (state) | NYC, Long Island & Westchester: $17.00 |
| North Carolina | $7.25 (federal) | |
| North Dakota | $7.25 (federal) | |
| Ohio | $11.00 | |
| Oklahoma | $7.25 (federal) | |
| Oregon | $15.05 (Julio 1) | Portland Metropolitan Area: $16.30 |
| Pennsylvania | $7.25 (federal) | |
| Rhode Island | $16.00 | |
| South Carolina | $7.25 (federal) | |
| South Dakota | $11.85 | |
| Tennessee | $7.25 (federal) | |
| Texas | $7.25 (federal) | |
| Utah | $7.25 (federal) | |
| Vermont | $14.42 | |
| Virginia | $12.77 | |
| Washington | $17.13 | Bellingham: $19.13 Everett: $18.77 (for companies with between 15 and 499 employees or with fewer than 15 employees but with more than $2 million in gross revenue) King County: $19.82 ($18.32 – 15 or less employees); Renton: $20.57 Seattle: $21.30 SeaTac: $20.74 (Employees in the hospitality and transportation sectors) Tukwila: $21.65 |
| West Virginia | $8.75 | |
| Wisconsin | $7.25 (federal) | |
| Wyoming | $7.25 applies to employees covered by FLSA |
Source: Department of Labor
Editor’s note: This article was originally written in Spanish and translated into English
