US Minimum Wage Calculator 2026
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Federal minimum wage is $7.25/hour, unchanged since 2009 — but state rates range up to $18.40/hour. Select your state to calculate weekly, monthly and annual minimum pay.
Quick answer: The US federal minimum wage is $7.25/hour, unchanged since 2009. Most states set a higher rate — Washington, D.C. is highest at $18.40/hour, Washington state at $17.13/hour. Working 40 hours/week at the federal rate earns $290/week or $15,080/year gross (US Department of Labor).
Gross pay before federal, state and local taxes. Some cities set an even higher local minimum — check your city ordinance. Comparing UK pay instead? Use the UK Minimum Wage Calculator.
📐 US Minimum Wage Formula
Monthly Minimum Pay = Weekly Pay × (52 ÷ 12)
Annual Minimum Pay = Weekly Pay × 52
How to Use the US Minimum Wage Calculator
Select your state
Choose the state where you work to apply its 2026 minimum wage rate, or the federal rate if it has no state law.
Enter your weekly hours
Input total hours worked per week.
See weekly, monthly and annual pay
The calculator multiplies your state's rate by hours worked, then converts to monthly (× 52 ÷ 12) and annual (× 52) gross figures.
Check if you're paid fairly
Enter your actual hourly rate to instantly see whether you're being paid at, above, or below the legal minimum for your state.
US Minimum Wage in 2026: Federal vs. State
The federal minimum wage under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) is $7.25 per hour — unchanged since July 24, 2009, the longest stretch without an increase in the law's history. States, and even cities, are free to set their own minimum wage above the federal floor, and most now do. Where federal, state, and local rates differ, an employer must pay whichever is highest for that work location.
22 states saw new minimum wage rates take effect in 2026 — 19 on January 1, and Alaska, Washington, D.C., and Oregon on July 1. Florida's next scheduled increase, to $15.00/hour, takes effect September 30, 2026.
Highest and Lowest State Minimum Wages — 2026
| Rank | State | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|
| Highest | District of Columbia | $18.40 |
| 2nd | Washington | $17.13 |
| 3rd | New York | $17.00 |
| 4th | Connecticut | $16.94 |
| 5th | California | $16.90 |
| Lowest (state-set) | Georgia / Wyoming | $5.15 (FLSA $7.25 applies) |
Full State-by-State Minimum Wage Table — 2026
| State | Hourly rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $7.25 | No state law — federal rate applies |
| Alaska | $14.00 | Increased July 1, 2026 |
| Arizona | $15.15 | Indexed annually |
| Arkansas | $11.00 | — |
| California | $16.90 | No tip credit allowed |
| Colorado | $15.16 | Denver & Boulder set higher local rates |
| Connecticut | $16.94 | — |
| Delaware | $15.00 | — |
| District of Columbia | $18.40 | Highest in the US |
| Florida | $14.00 | Rising to $15.00 on Sept 30, 2026 |
| Georgia | $5.15 | FLSA $7.25 applies to covered employers |
| Hawaii | $16.00 | — |
| Idaho | $7.25 | Matches federal |
| Illinois | $15.00 | Chicago sets a higher local rate |
| Indiana | $7.25 | Matches federal |
| Iowa | $7.25 | Matches federal |
| Kansas | $7.25 | Matches federal |
| Kentucky | $7.25 | Matches federal |
| Louisiana | $7.25 | No state law — federal rate applies |
| Maine | $15.10 | Portland & Rockland set higher local rates |
| Maryland | $15.00 | — |
| Massachusetts | $15.00 | — |
| Michigan | $13.73 | Revised tipped-wage schedule in effect |
| Minnesota | $11.41 | No tip credit allowed |
| Mississippi | $7.25 | No state law — federal rate applies |
| Missouri | $15.00 | — |
| Montana | $10.85 | $4.00 for businesses under $110,000 gross revenue |
| Nebraska | $15.00 | — |
| Nevada | $12.00 | No tip credit allowed |
| New Hampshire | $7.25 | Matches federal |
| New Jersey | $15.92 | Large employers; separate long-term care rate |
| New Mexico | $12.00 | — |
| New York | up to $17.00 | NYC/downstate $17.00, upstate lower |
| North Carolina | $7.25 | Matches federal |
| North Dakota | $7.25 | Matches federal |
| Ohio | $11.00 | Indexed annually for larger employers |
| Oklahoma | $7.25 | Very small employers may pay less |
| Oregon | $15.55 | Portland metro higher, nonurban counties lower |
| Pennsylvania | $7.25 | Matches federal |
| Rhode Island | $16.00 | — |
| South Carolina | $7.25 | No state law — federal rate applies |
| South Dakota | $11.85 | — |
| Tennessee | $7.25 | No state law — federal rate applies |
| Texas | $7.25 | Matches federal |
| Utah | $7.25 | Matches federal |
| Vermont | $14.42 | — |
| Virginia | $12.77 | — |
| Washington | $17.13 | No tip credit allowed |
| West Virginia | $8.75 | — |
| Wisconsin | $7.25 | Matches federal |
| Wyoming | $5.15 | FLSA $7.25 applies to covered employers |
The Tipped Minimum Wage
How the Federal Tip Credit Works
Under the FLSA, employers may pay tipped employees a lower direct cash wage of just $2.13/hour, using a tip credit of up to $5.12/hour toward the $7.25 federal minimum. If an employee's tips don't bring their total pay up to at least $7.25/hour for the pay period, the employer must make up the difference.
Which states ban the tip credit entirely?
California, Washington, Minnesota, Nevada, Montana, Alaska, and Oregon require tipped employees to be paid the full state minimum wage before tips, with no tip credit at all — meaning a tipped worker in these states earns at least the full state rate plus whatever tips they receive on top.
Local Minimum Wages Can Be Even Higher
Many cities and counties set a local minimum wage above their state's rate. Seattle, San Francisco, and several New York City boroughs are well-known examples where the local minimum exceeds both the state and federal floor. Always check your specific city or county ordinance in addition to the state rate shown here — an employer must pay whichever of federal, state, or local law sets the highest rate for that work location.
Worked Example
What If I'm Paid Below Minimum Wage?
Paying below the applicable federal, state, or local minimum wage violates the FLSA and equivalent state laws. You can file a free complaint with the US Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division, or your state labor agency if your state rate is higher than federal. Employers found in violation can be ordered to pay back wages plus liquidated damages equal to the amount owed — effectively doubling the payout — and repeat or willful violators can face civil penalties.
Want to see what you actually take home after taxes? Use our Paycheck Calculator or Tax Calculator for a full breakdown by pay period.
Frequently Asked Questions
Sources & Methodology
Calculations are based on the most current publicly available data from authoritative government sources: