On New Year’s Day 2026, 19 states will raise their minimum wage in what business owners are calling a potential boost to consumer spending that will strengthen local economies. While some states will reach a $15 minimum wage for the first time, other states will have a minimum wage of $15 or higher as of January 1, 2026.
In addition, 49 cities and counties will also increase their minimum wages this new year.
“As affordability challenges grow, National Employment Law Project supports 2026 wage increases that move us toward a good-jobs economy, rooted in living wages for all. Workers need good jobs, and that starts by having a meaningful federal minimum wage,” Yannet Lathrop, senior researcher and policy analyst with the National Employment Law Project (NELP), said.
Arizona, Colorado, Florida (later in the year), Maine, Missouri and Nebraska will all reach a $15 minimum wage for the first time. According to a press release, 20 states plus D.C. will have a minimum wage of $15 or higher, or are phasing in scheduled increases to $15 or higher: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island and Washington State, which has the highest state minimum wage at $17.13 starting in January.
With the minimum wage stagnant for 16 years at $7.25, advocates welcome the wage increase calling it an important step forward to help workers meet basic needs.
“With no progress at the federal level, workers and advocates have successfully pushed through state and local measures, all while consistently naming that affordability is a top priority,” Lathrop said. “After years of worker-led organizing, these gains offer limited but important relief—especially for Black and brown workers who lead these fights and are disproportionately harmed by low wages and economic insecurity. It’s time for Congress to take action for workers at the national level.”
Alaska, Oregon, the District of Columbia and Floria will raise their minimum wages later in 2026. Alaska plans to increase it to $14 on July 1, 2026 and $15 on July 1, 2027. While Oregon and the District of Columbia will have cost of living increases on July 1, 2026. Florida’s plan is to raise the minimum wage to $15 on September 30, 2026 and the state will resume annual indexing in 2027
“With millions of workers still earning far too little to meet basic needs, the 2026 minimum wage increases represent both an important step forward and a reminder of the work that remains,” NELP said.
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