These states are increasing the minimum wage in 2026

article

FILE-A waitress carries a tray of lobster kettle and a crab trio dish at a Red Lobster restaurant in Yonkers, New York. (Michael Nagle/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Millions of workers will get a nice boost to their paychecks as minimum wage increases take effect in 19 states on Jan. 1. 

This new pay increase impacts over 8.3 million employees, who will gain a combined $5 billion during 2026, according to the Economic Policy Institute. 

RELATED: New laws taking effect in 2026: What you need to know

Starting today, there will be more workers in states with a $15 or higher minimum wage than in states with the federal minimum of $7.25, the EPI noted. 

Minimum wage increases in 19 states in 2026

Here's a list of the states raising their minimum wages in 2026.

What states raised their minimum wage in 2026?

Why you should care:

With the new hike in minimum wage, workers are going to experience a rise in pay in these states in 2026. 

1. Arizona—$15.15 an hour
2. California—$16.90 an hour
3. Colorado—$15.16 an hour
4. Connecticut—$16.94 an hour
5. Hawaii—$16 an hour
6. Maine—$15.10 an hour
7. Michigan—$13.73 an hour
8. Minnesota—$11.41 an hour
9. Missouri—$15 an hour
10. Montana—$10.85 an hour
11. Nebraska—$15 an hour
12. New Jersey—$15.92 an hour
13. New York—$16 an hour for the remainder of the state and $17 an hour for NYC, Long Island, and Westchester.
14. Ohio—$11 an hour
15. Rhode Island—$16 an hour
16. South Dakota—$11.85 an hour
17. Vermont—$14.42 an hour
18. Virginia—$12.77 an hour
19. Washington—$17.13 an hour

By the numbers:

Washington is the state with the highest minimum wage, offering employees $17.13 per hour.

Meanwhile, workers in New York have the second-highest wage hike with a minimum hourly wage of $17 for workers in New York City, Long Island and Westchester. Outside those locales, workers in New York will receive at least $16 per hour.

RELATED: SNAP junk-food purchase restrictions take effect Jan. 1 in five states, others to follow in 2026 — see where

The Economic Policy Institute notes in its report that in 2026, minimum wage rates in Arizona, Colorado, Hawaii, Maine, Missouri, and Nebraska will reach or surpass $15 an hour for the first time. This means that 17 states and Washington D.C. will reach that milestone. 

Moreover, 20 states with over 60 million workers chose to leave their minimum wage at the federal minimum of $7.25 an hour. The EPI noted that the federal minimum wage has not increased from $7.25 an hour in over 15 years, during which time its value fell by more than 30%.