Nineteen states are raising their minimum wage this year. Washington State and New York have the highest minimum wages among the other states. The current federal minimum wage is $7.25 an hour.

Understanding the Context

Minimum wage policy is about to shift again as the calendar turns, with a new round of state level increases scheduled to take effect at the start of 2026. While federal law has held the nationwide ... News Tribune: Minimum-Wage Workers in These 19 States Just Got a Raise The federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour has not budged since 2009, essentially leaving it to states to set meaningful minimum wage increases. Money; Getty Images Minimum-wage workers in 19 states ...

Key Insights

CNBC: Minimum wage just went up in 19 states—workers in one state are getting a $2 an hour raise Many U.S. workers are ringing in the new year with a raise as new minimum wage increases take effect in states and localities across the country on Thursday. More than 8.3 million workers are expected ... Minimum wage just went up in 19 states—workers in one state are getting a $2 an hour raise CBS News: Is your state raising its minimum wage in 2026? Here's the list.

Final Thoughts