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Direct answer: The federal minimum wage is $7.25 an hour, but states can set higher rates. As of Oct. 17, 2026, 20 states effectively use $7.25 (including Tennessee), while Washington is highest among states at $17.13 and D.C. is $18.40. At least 8 states have announced Jan. 1, 2027 increases.
By the numbers: 20 states at the federal $7.25; 18 states at $15 or more; highest state Washington $17.13 ($17.73 in 2027). Source: U.S. DOL Wage and Hour Division state table (July 1, 2026) + state labor agencies
“Employers subject to the Fair Labor Standards Act must pay the current Federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour.” — U.S. Department of Labor, State Minimum Wage Laws
Updated 2026-10-17
Tennessee has no state minimum wage law, so the federal $7.25 an hour applies to jobs covered by the Fair Labor Standards Act (U.S. Labor Department). At 40 hours a week, that's $290.00 a week or $15,080.00 a year before taxes. With no state law, it changes only if Congress changes the federal rate.
Among states, Washington ($17.13), New York ($17.00 in New York City, Long Island and Westchester; $16.00 elsewhere), Connecticut ($16.94) and California ($16.90). D.C. is $18.40. In 2027 Washington goes to $17.73 and California to $17.40.
20 states: Alabama, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Hampshire, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Wisconsin, Wyoming. Some have no state law; others set $7.25 or a lower state rate, but federal law requires $7.25 for covered jobs.
Verified from the states so far: Washington ($17.73), California ($17.40), Colorado ($15.71), Michigan ($15.00), South Dakota ($12.30), Minnesota ($11.87), Ohio ($11.40), Montana ($11.20). New York stays at $17.00/$16.00 and Florida stays at $15.00 through 2027. Other states may also change; we add them when the state posts its notice.
$7.25 × 40 hours × 52 weeks = $15,080.00 before taxes. At Washington's $17.13, it's $35,630.40.
State rates from the U.S. Labor Department's table updated July 1, 2026 (Florida from FloridaCommerce); Jan. 1, 2027 rates from state agency notices; checked Oct. 17, 2026.
As of Oct. 17, 2026 · U.S. Labor Department state table updated July 1, 2026 · 2027 rates from state notices
Your job pays at least the higher of your state's minimum and the federal $7.25 an hour (for jobs covered by federal law). As of Oct. 17, 2026, 20 states sit at $7.25, 18 are at $15 or more, and Washington is highest at $17.13. Tennessee has no state minimum wage, so it's $7.25.
The math:
Sources: U.S. DOL state table (July 1, 2026) · FloridaCommerce · WA L&I · CA Dept. of Finance
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Pick your state. Leave the hourly rate blank to use the state minimum, or type your own pay to check it against the minimum.
State rates from the U.S. Labor Department's table (updated July 1, 2026), plus Florida's Sept. 30, 2026 increase. “Most jobs pay at least” is the higher of the state rate and the federal $7.25, which applies to jobs covered by the federal Fair Labor Standards Act. “Jan. 1, 2027” is filled in only where we read the state's own notice; — means not verified yet, not “no change”.
| State | State rate now | Most jobs pay at least | Jan. 1, 2027 | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | No state law | $7.25 | — | |
| Alaska | $14.00 | $14.00 | — | |
| Arizona | $15.15 | $15.15 | — | |
| Arkansas | $11.00 | $11.00 | — | Applicable to employers with 4 or more employees |
| California | $16.90 | $16.90 | $17.40 | |
| Colorado | $15.16 | $15.16 | $15.71 | |
| Connecticut | $16.94 | $16.94 | — | |
| Delaware | $15.00 | $15.00 | — | |
| District of Columbia | $18.40 | $18.40 | — | |
| Florida | $15.00 | $15.00 | $15.00 (no change) | Rose from $14.00 to $15.00 on Sept. 30, 2026 (FloridaCommerce); no Jan. 1 change: $15.00 runs through Dec. 31, 2027 |
| Georgia | $5.15 (state rate) | $7.25 | — | Applicable to employers of 6 or more employees |
| Guam | $9.25 | $9.25 | — | |
| Hawaii | $16.00 | $16.00 | — | |
| Idaho | $7.25 | $7.25 | — | |
| Illinois | $15.00 | $15.00 | — | Applicable to employers of 4 or more employees, excluding family members |
| Indiana | $7.25 | $7.25 | — | Applicable to employers of 2 or more employees |
| Iowa | $7.25 | $7.25 | — | |
| Kansas | $7.25 | $7.25 | — | |
| Kentucky | $7.25 | $7.25 | — | |
| Louisiana | No state law | $7.25 | — | |
| Maine | $15.10 | $15.10 | — | |
| Maryland | $15.00 | $15.00 | — | |
| Massachusetts | $15.00 | $15.00 | — | |
| Michigan | $13.73 | $13.73 | $15.00 | scheduled in state law, per the U.S. Labor Department; Applicable to employers of 2 or more employees |
| Minnesota | $11.41 | $11.41 | $11.87 | |
| Mississippi | No state law | $7.25 | — | |
| Missouri | $15.00 | $15.00 | — | |
| Montana | $10.85 | $10.85 | $11.20 | $4.00 for businesses not covered by the federal FLSA with gross annual sales of $110,000 or less |
| Nebraska | $15.00 | $15.00 | — | Applicable to employers of 4 or more employees |
| Nevada | $12.00 | $12.00 | — | |
| New Hampshire | $7.25 | $7.25 | — | |
| New Jersey | $15.92 | $15.92 | — | $15.23 for employers with fewer than 6 employees and seasonal employment |
| New Mexico | $12.00 | $12.00 | — | |
| New York | $17.00 in New York City, Long Island (Nassau, Suffolk) and Westchester; $16.00 in the rest of the state | $16.00 | $16.00 (no change) | no change: $17.00 NYC/Long Island/Westchester, $16.00 rest of state (an 'off-ramp' in state law was triggered) |
| North Carolina | $7.25 | $7.25 | — | |
| North Dakota | $7.25 | $7.25 | — | |
| Northern Mariana Islands | $7.25 | $7.25 | — | |
| Ohio | $11.00 | $11.00 | $11.40 | $7.25 (federal) for employers with annual gross receipts under $405,000 in 2026 ($419,000 or less from Jan. 1, 2027); businesses with gross receipts over $419,000 |
| Oklahoma | $7.25 | $7.25 | — | $2.00 for employers not covered by the federal FLSA with fewer than 10 full-time employees at any one location and gross sales of $100,000 or less |
| Oregon | $15.55 standard; $16.80 Portland metro; $14.55 non-urban counties | $15.55 | — | |
| Pennsylvania | $7.25 | $7.25 | — | |
| Puerto Rico | $10.50 | $10.50 | — | |
| Rhode Island | $16.00 | $16.00 | — | |
| South Carolina | No state law | $7.25 | — | |
| South Dakota | $11.85 | $11.85 | $12.30 | |
| Tennessee | No state law | $7.25 | — | |
| Texas | $7.25 | $7.25 | — | |
| Utah | $7.25 | $7.25 | — | |
| Vermont | $14.42 | $14.42 | — | Applicable to employers of two or more employees |
| Virgin Islands | $10.50 | $10.50 | — | |
| Virginia | $12.77 | $12.77 | — | |
| Washington | $17.13 | $17.13 | $17.73 | |
| West Virginia | $8.75 | $8.75 | — | Applicable to employers of 6 or more employees at one location |
| Wisconsin | $7.25 | $7.25 | — | |
| Wyoming | $5.15 (state rate) | $7.25 | — |
American Samoa has special industry rates (not shown). Cities and counties can set higher minimums (for example Denver, Seattle and many California cities); this table is statewide only. Sources: U.S. DOL state table (July 1, 2026) · FloridaCommerce; 2027: WA L&I · CA Dept. of Finance · Colorado CDLE · Ohio Commerce · Montana DLI · Minnesota DLI · South Dakota DLR · NY DOL
Other states adjust every year too (for example Arizona, Connecticut, Maine, New Jersey, Vermont and Virginia). We list a 2027 rate only after reading the state's own notice, so check back.
Source: U.S. DOL state table (July 1, 2026)
How we built this: every state rate is read from the U.S. Labor Department's table (saved with a checksum and parsed in code), with Florida's later increase from FloridaCommerce. 2027 rates come only from the state agency's own notice or poster. The calculator runs in your browser with the same arithmetic as our server-side check.
Facts and math, not legal advice. The U.S. Labor Department says to consult the state labor office for official information. Local, tipped, youth and industry rates aren't shown.
Tennessee has no state minimum wage law, so the federal $7.25 an hour applies to jobs covered by the Fair Labor Standards Act (U.S. Labor Department). At 40 hours a week, that's $290.00 a week or $15,080.00 a year before taxes. With no state law, it changes only if Congress changes the federal rate.
Among states, Washington ($17.13), New York ($17.00 in New York City, Long Island and Westchester; $16.00 elsewhere), Connecticut ($16.94) and California ($16.90). D.C. is $18.40. In 2027 Washington goes to $17.73 and California to $17.40.
20 states: Alabama, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Hampshire, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Wisconsin, Wyoming. Some have no state law; others set $7.25 or a lower state rate, but federal law requires $7.25 for covered jobs.
Verified from the states so far: Washington ($17.73), California ($17.40), Colorado ($15.71), Michigan ($15.00), South Dakota ($12.30), Minnesota ($11.87), Ohio ($11.40), Montana ($11.20). New York stays at $17.00/$16.00 and Florida stays at $15.00 through 2027. Other states may also change; we add them when the state posts its notice.
$7.25 × 40 hours × 52 weeks = $15,080.00 before taxes. At Washington's $17.13, it's $35,630.40.
Estimates, not financial advice. Taxes, insurance, PMI and fees vary by lender, county and city; confirm with your lender, dealer and state agency before acting.
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