Employer rules · Checked October 25, 2026
Employer pay rules by state: minimum wage, overtime and final paychecks
The rules that change what you must pay, for every state and Washington, DC: today’s minimum wage and what it will be in 2027, the tipped cash wage, daily overtime, and how fast a final paycheck is due. Every row names its source and the date we checked it.
All rules Minimum wage by state 2027 increases Tipped wage Final paycheck laws Overtime
Changes coming on January 1, 2027
- Michigan: $13.73 to $15.00.
- Rhode Island: $16.00 to $17.00.
- Virginia: $12.77 to $13.75.
- Washington: $17.13 to $17.73.
- Maine: $15.10 to $15.70.
- New Jersey: $15.92 to $16.48.
- Colorado: $15.16 to $15.71.
- Connecticut: $16.94 to $17.48.
- Arizona: $15.15 to $15.65.
- California: $16.90 to $17.40.
- Minnesota: $11.41 to $11.87.
- South Dakota: $11.85 to $12.30.
- Ohio: $11.00 to $11.40.
- Montana: $10.85 to $11.20.
- Nebraska: $15.00 to $15.26.
Full list with dates and sources: 2027 minimum wage increases. New York will not rise on January 1, 2027, and Vermont had not published its 2027 rate when we checked.
Every state at a glance
| State | Minimum wage now | Next change | Tipped cash wage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $7.25 federal | None scheduled | $2.13 |
| Alaska | $14.00 | $15.00 Jul 1, 2027 | Full minimum wage (no tip credit) |
| Arizona | $15.15 | $15.65 Jan 1, 2027 | $12.15 |
| Arkansas | $11.00 | None scheduled | $2.63 |
| California | $16.90 | $17.40 Jan 1, 2027 | Full minimum wage (no tip credit) |
| Colorado | $15.16 | $15.71 Jan 1, 2027 | $12.14 |
| Connecticut | $16.94 | $17.48 Jan 1, 2027 | $6.38 (hotel and restaurant); $8.23 (bartenders) |
| Delaware | $15.00 | None scheduled | $2.23 |
| District of Columbia | $18.40 | Inflation update on July 1, 2027 (not published yet) | $10.30 |
| Florida | $15.00 | Inflation updates begin January 1, 2028 | $11.98 |
| Georgia | $7.25 federal | None scheduled | $2.13 |
| Hawaii | $16.00 | $18.00 Jan 1, 2028 | $14.75 (conditions apply) |
| Idaho | $7.25 federal | None scheduled | $3.35 |
| Illinois | $15.00 | None scheduled | $9.00 |
| Indiana | $7.25 federal | None scheduled | $2.13 |
| Iowa | $7.25 federal | None scheduled | $4.35 |
| Kansas | $7.25 federal | None scheduled | $2.13 |
| Kentucky | $7.25 federal | None scheduled | $2.13 |
| Louisiana | $7.25 federal | None scheduled | $2.13 |
| Maine | $15.10 | $15.70 Jan 1, 2027 | $7.55 |
| Maryland | $15.00 | None scheduled | $3.63 |
| Massachusetts | $15.00 | None scheduled | $6.75 |
| Michigan | $13.73 | $15.00 Jan 1, 2027 | $5.49 |
| Minnesota | $11.41 | $11.87 Jan 1, 2027 | Full minimum wage (no tip credit) |
| Mississippi | $7.25 federal | None scheduled | $2.13 |
| Missouri | $15.00 | None scheduled | $7.50 |
| Montana | $10.85 | $11.20 Jan 1, 2027 | Full minimum wage (no tip credit) |
| Nebraska | $15.00 | $15.26 Jan 1, 2027 | $2.13 |
| Nevada | $12.00 | None scheduled | Full minimum wage (no tip credit) |
| New Hampshire | $7.25 federal | None scheduled | $3.27 |
| New Jersey | $15.92 | $16.48 Jan 1, 2027 | $6.05 |
| New Mexico | $12.00 | None scheduled | $3.00 |
| New York | $16.00 to $17.00 | No increase on January 1, 2027 (a legal off-ramp was triggered). A March 1, 2027 increase is proposed but not law. | Varies by region and industry |
| North Carolina | $7.25 federal | None scheduled | $2.13 |
| North Dakota | $7.25 federal | None scheduled | $4.86 |
| Ohio | $11.00 | $11.40 Jan 1, 2027 | $5.50 |
| Oklahoma | $7.25 federal | None scheduled | $2.13 |
| Oregon | $15.55 (standard) | Inflation update on July 1, 2027 (not published yet) | Full minimum wage (no tip credit) |
| Pennsylvania | $7.25 federal | None scheduled | $2.83 |
| Rhode Island | $16.00 | $17.00 Jan 1, 2027 | $3.89 |
| South Carolina | $7.25 federal | None scheduled | $2.13 |
| South Dakota | $11.85 | $12.30 Jan 1, 2027 | $5.93 |
| Tennessee | $7.25 federal | None scheduled | $2.13 |
| Texas | $7.25 federal | None scheduled | $2.13 |
| Utah | $7.25 federal | None scheduled | $2.13 |
| Vermont | $14.42 | Inflation update on January 1, 2027 (not published when we checked) | $7.21 |
| Virginia | $12.77 | $13.75 Jan 1, 2027 | $2.13 |
| Washington | $17.13 | $17.73 Jan 1, 2027 | Full minimum wage (no tip credit) |
| West Virginia | $8.75 | None scheduled | $2.62 |
| Wisconsin | $7.25 federal | None scheduled | $2.33 |
| Wyoming | $7.25 federal | None scheduled | $2.13 |
The four rules employers ask about most
Change log
Every change to these tables is dated here.
- Oct 25, 2026: Hub launched with every state and DC. 2027 increases confirmed for 16 states; Vermont, Oregon and DC updates not published yet.
- Oct 1, 2026: New York: no increase on January 1, 2027 (employment off-ramp triggered).
- Sep 30, 2026: Florida reached $15.00 ($11.98 tipped cash wage).
- Jul 1, 2026: DC $18.40, Oregon $15.55 standard, Alaska $14.00.
Put the wage table on your site
HR blogs and payroll teams can embed the state minimum wage table. It updates when we update it.
<iframe src="https://www.payrollchecks.net/embed/minimum-wage-table" width="100%" height="640" style="border:0" loading="lazy" title="Minimum wage by state"></iframe>Sources
- U.S. Department of Labor, Consolidated State Minimum Wage Table (July 1, 2026)
- U.S. Department of Labor, Minimum Wages for Tipped Employees (July 1, 2026)
- Nolo, Final Paycheck Laws by State (statute citations listed per state)
- 2027 rates: each state’s own announcement or law, linked on its state page.
Frequently asked questions
Which states raise the minimum wage on January 1, 2027?
Michigan ($15.00), Rhode Island ($17.00), Virginia ($13.75), Washington ($17.73), Maine ($15.70), New Jersey ($16.48), Colorado ($15.71), Connecticut ($17.48), Arizona ($15.65), California ($17.40), Minnesota ($11.87), South Dakota ($12.30), Ohio ($11.40), Montana ($11.20), Nebraska ($15.26).
What is the federal minimum wage?
$7.25 an hour, unchanged since July 2009. When a state rate is higher, employers pay the higher one.
Which state has the highest minimum wage?
District of Columbia at $18.40 an hour as of October 25, 2026. Some cities, such as Seattle and Denver, are higher still.
These are summaries of state law for general information, not legal advice. Cities and counties can set higher minimums, and special rules cover minors, trainees, farm work and some industries. Check with the state labor department before you make a pay decision.