19 States Just Raised Minimum Wage in 2026 – Are You Getting Paid More?
- Author: Jeff Christiansen
- Posted: 2026-01-07
If you're working in hourly jobs like retail, food service, or hospitality, good news – 19 states bumped up their minimum wage started January 1, 2026.
That's 8.3 million workers seeing more money in their paychecks right now, adding about $5 billion to local economies nationwide.
Which States Got the Biggest Raises?
Here are the top minimum wage increases for 2026 – some states are now paying $17+/hour:
Highest Increases:
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Hawaii: $14 → $16 (14% jump!)
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California: $16.50 → $16.90
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New York City: $16.50 → $17
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Washington: $16.66 → $17.13 (highest in America)
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Missouri: $13.75 → $15
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Nebraska: $13.50 → $15
Full List of 2026 Increases (19 States):
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Arizona ($15.15), Colorado, Connecticut ($16.94), Maine ($15.10)
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Michigan ($13.73), Minnesota ($11.41), Montana
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New Jersey ($15.92), Ohio ($11), Rhode Island ($16)
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South Dakota ($11.85), Vermont ($14.42), Virginia ($12.77)
Cities Paying Even More:
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Seattle: $21.30/hour
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Minneapolis: $16.37/hour
Federal Minimum Wage? Still Stuck at $7.25 Since 2009
While nearly half the states now beat federal minimum wage, 29 states are still tied to that ancient $7.25/hour (unchanged for 17 years).
What This Means for Workers & Employers
For employees: Immediate paycheck boost – no action needed!
For employers: Update payroll NOW or face fines. Check DOL state wage map.
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