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Minimum wage rises in 19 states starting New Year’s Day 2026
‘The Big Money Show’ panel discusses President Donald Trump’s upbeat economic forecast, rising real wages, private-sector job growth and how upcoming tax refunds could shape the 2026 midterms.
American workers at the bottom end of the pay scale are set to see the minimum wage rise in 19 states effective on New Year’s Day, while three other states are also planning minimum wage increases later in 2026.
While 20 states opt to leave their minimum wage at the federal minimum of $7.25 an hour, the majority of states have set higher minimums which may be periodically adjusted to account for inflation or to account for a change in state labor compensation laws.
The minimum wage helps to support workers at the lower end of the pay scale, though critics note that higher minimum wage levels increase costs for businesses and can suppress job growth as firms look to automate tasks that could otherwise be done by lower-wage workers.
Here’s a look at which states will be raising their minimum wages in 2026 and when those changes are set to occur.
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The minimum wage will increase on New Year’s Day in 19 states, including California. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images / Getty Images)
Minimum wage rising January 1
Arizona: $15.15 an hour, though local rates may vary.
California: $16.90 an hour.
Colorado: $15.16 an hour, local rates may vary.
Connecticut: $16.94 an hour.
Hawaii: $16 an hour.
Maine: $15.10 an hour.
Michigan: $13.73 an hour.
Minnesota: $11.41 an hour, local rates may vary.
Missouri: $15 an hour.
Montana: $10.85 an hour.
Nebraska: $15 an hour.
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New Jersey: $15.92 an hour for firms with six or more employees; $15.23 for seasonal workers or firms with fewer than six employees; $14.20 for agricultural workers; $18.92 for long-term care facility direct care workers.
New York: $17 an hour in New York City, Long Island and Westchester; $16 for the remainder of the state; home care aides may have different minimum wage rates.
Ohio: $11 an hour, though small firms meeting income requirements may pay the federal minimum.
Rhode Island: $16 an hour.
South Dakota: $11.85 an hour.
Vermont: $14.42 an hour.
Virginia: $12.77 an hour.
Washington: $17.13 an hour, local rates may be higher.
New York’s minimum wage regime has different minimums for different parts of the state, including New York City. (Gary Hershorn/Getty Images / Getty Images)
Minimum wage rising later in 2026
Alaska: Rising from $13 to $14 an hour effective July 1.
Florida: Rising to $15 an hour on September 30.
Oregon: Standard rate of $15.05 per hour will adjust based on CPI inflation data on July 1; Portland metro rate is $16.30 an hour, while the nonurban county rate is $14.05 an hour.
Florida’s minimum wage will rise on September 30. (Jeffrey Greenberg/Education Images/Universal Images Group / Getty Images)
