The short version: In 2026, the federal minimum wage in the United States is 7.25 dollars per hour , but many states have set higher minimums, some going above 15 dollars per hour.

What “minimum wage” means

  • Minimum wage is the lowest hourly pay an employer can legally pay most workers.
  • In the U.S., there are often three layers :
    • Federal minimum wage (applies nationwide).
* State minimum wage (some states set higher rates).

* Local/city minimum wage (certain cities set even higher rates).
  • When more than one applies, employers must pay the highest applicable rate.

So if the federal rate is 7.25, but your state is 15.00 and your city is 16.00, you should be getting at least 16.00 per hour.

Federal minimum wage right now

  • Federal minimum wage in 2026: 7.25 USD per hour.
  • This rate has been unchanged since 2009 , meaning it has not kept up with inflation for more than 15 years.

That’s why so many states and cities have moved to higher local minimum wages over the last decade.

Examples of 2026 minimum wages by state

Here are some illustrative 2026 hourly rates across the U.S. (statewide general minimums, not counting special city rules or tipped-worker rules).

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Place 2026 minimum wage (hourly) Notes
Federal (USA) $7.25 Applies nationwide unless state/local is higher.
California $16.90 Statewide rate from Jan 1, 2026; adjusted annually for inflation.
New York City area $17.00 NYC, Nassau, Suffolk, Westchester; rest of NY is $16.00.
Washington State $17.13 One of the highest statewide minimums.
Florida $15.00 Set to reach $15.00 on Sept 30, 2026.
Hawaii $16.00 Increased from 14.00 in 2025.
Missouri $15.00 General state minimum.
Michigan $13.73 General statewide rate.
Texas $7.25 No higher state minimum; defaults to federal.
Alabama $7.25 No separate state minimum; follows federal.
Washington, D.C. $17.95 Separate from states; very high floor.
Many cities (for example, in California, Washington, and others) go even higher than these state numbers, but those are handled by local ordinances.

Why the answer depends on “where”

If you’re asking “what is the minimum wage” in a practical sense (e.g., “what should I be paid?”), the exact answer depends on your location and job type :

  • Country (each has its own system).
  • State or province (inside the U.S., Canada, etc.).
  • City or county (some big metro areas set higher wages).
  • Whether you’re:
    • A tipped worker (like servers or bartenders, who may have different cash wage rules).
    • A younger worker or trainee (some places allow temporary lower training rates).
    • Covered by special industry rules (for example, farm work, gig work, or contractors).

If you tell me your country, state, and city , I can narrow it down to your local minimum wage and explain how it applies to your situation (like part-time vs full-time, tipped vs non-tipped).