Your Paycheck (Minimum Wage)
The federal minimum wage is $7.25 an hour, but most states set their own — and the one where you actually work is what applies. When a state’s rate is higher than federal, you get the higher rate. Some cities set theirs higher still.
Know your options
- You get the higher rate: When your state (or city) sets a minimum above the federal $7.25, that higher rate is what your employer must pay you.
- Cities can go higher: Some cities and counties set a local minimum above the state rate — for example Chicago, New York City, and much of California.
- Tipped work: Your cash wage plus tips has to total at least the full minimum wage for the hours you worked. If it doesn’t, your employer must make up the difference.
Your state’s rules
Pick your state above to see your rules.
Alabama
- Minimum wage
- $7.25/hr (federal)
- Tipped minimum
- $2.13 cash + tips
- Compared to federal
- Same as federal — Alabama has no state minimum.
Alaska
- Minimum wage
- $14.00/hr (July 1, 2026)
- Tipped minimum
- $14.00 — no tip credit; tips are on top
- Compared to federal
- Higher than federal. Rises to $15.00 on July 1, 2027 (Ballot Measure 1).
Arizona
- Minimum wage
- $15.15/hr
- Tipped minimum
- $12.15 cash + tips ($3 tip credit)
- Compared to federal
- Higher than federal. Flagstaff sets more.
Arkansas
- Minimum wage
- $11.00/hr (employers with 4+ workers)
- Tipped minimum
- $2.63 cash + tips
- Compared to federal
- Higher than federal.
California
- Minimum wage
- $16.90/hr
- Tipped minimum
- $16.90 — no tip credit; tips are on top
- Compared to federal
- Higher than federal. Fast-food is $20; some cities set more.
Colorado
- Minimum wage
- $15.16/hr
- Tipped minimum
- $12.14 cash + tips ($3.02 credit)
- Compared to federal
- Higher than federal. Denver sets more.
Connecticut
- Minimum wage
- $16.94/hr
- Tipped minimum
- Waitstaff $10.71 / bartenders $13.81 cash + tips
- Compared to federal
- Higher than federal (indexed yearly).
Delaware
- Minimum wage
- $15.00/hr
- Tipped minimum
- $2.23 cash + tips
- Compared to federal
- Higher than federal.
Florida
- Minimum wage
- $14.00/hr (rises to $15.00 on Sept 30, 2026)
- Tipped minimum
- $10.98 cash + tips
- Compared to federal
- Higher than federal.
Georgia
- Minimum wage
- $7.25/hr (federal)
- Tipped minimum
- $2.13 cash + tips
- Compared to federal
- Same as federal — Georgia’s own law is $5.15, but federal $7.25 applies to most jobs.
Hawaii
- Minimum wage
- $16.00/hr
- Tipped minimum
- $14.75 cash + tips ($1.25 credit)
- Compared to federal
- Higher than federal. Rises to $18.00 on Jan 1, 2028.
Idaho
- Minimum wage
- $7.25/hr (federal)
- Tipped minimum
- $3.35 cash + tips
- Compared to federal
- Same as federal — Idaho matches the federal floor.
Illinois
- Minimum wage
- $15.00/hr
- Tipped minimum
- $9.00 cash (60%) + tips
- Compared to federal
- Higher than federal. Chicago and Cook County set more.
Indiana
- Minimum wage
- $7.25/hr (federal)
- Tipped minimum
- $2.13 cash + tips
- Compared to federal
- Same as federal — no higher state rate.
Iowa
- Minimum wage
- $7.25/hr (federal)
- Tipped minimum
- $4.35 cash + tips
- Compared to federal
- Same as federal — Iowa matches the federal rate.
Kansas
- Minimum wage
- $7.25/hr (federal)
- Tipped minimum
- $2.13 cash + tips
- Compared to federal
- Same as federal — no higher state rate.
Kentucky
- Minimum wage
- $7.25/hr (federal)
- Tipped minimum
- $2.13 cash + tips
- Compared to federal
- Same as federal — no higher state rate.
Louisiana
- Minimum wage
- $7.25/hr (federal)
- Tipped minimum
- $2.13 cash + tips
- Compared to federal
- Same as federal — Louisiana has no state minimum.
Maine
- Minimum wage
- $15.10/hr (Jan 1, 2026)
- Tipped minimum
- $7.55 cash + tips
- Compared to federal
- Higher than federal (indexed yearly). Portland $16.75, Rockland $16.00.
Maryland
- Minimum wage
- $15.00/hr
- Tipped minimum
- $3.63 cash + tips
- Compared to federal
- Higher than federal. Montgomery and Howard counties set more.
Massachusetts
- Minimum wage
- $15.00/hr
- Tipped minimum
- $6.75 cash + tips (service rate)
- Compared to federal
- Higher than federal.
Michigan
- Minimum wage
- $13.73/hr
- Tipped minimum
- $5.49 cash (40%) + tips
- Compared to federal
- Higher than federal. Rises to $15.00 on Jan 1, 2027.
Minnesota
- Minimum wage
- $11.41/hr
- Tipped minimum
- $11.41 — no tip credit; tips are on top
- Compared to federal
- Higher than federal. Minneapolis and St. Paul set more.
Mississippi
- Minimum wage
- $7.25/hr (federal)
- Tipped minimum
- $2.13 cash + tips
- Compared to federal
- Same as federal — Mississippi has no state minimum.
Missouri
- Minimum wage
- $15.00/hr
- Tipped minimum
- $7.50 cash (50%) + tips
- Compared to federal
- Higher than federal (Prop A, 2024).
Montana
- Minimum wage
- $10.85/hr (Jan 1, 2026)
- Tipped minimum
- $10.85 — no tip credit; tips are on top
- Compared to federal
- Higher than federal (indexed yearly).
Nebraska
- Minimum wage
- $15.00/hr (final step of Initiative 433)
- Tipped minimum
- $2.13 cash + tips
- Compared to federal
- Higher than federal.
Nevada
- Minimum wage
- $12.00/hr
- Tipped minimum
- $12.00 — no tip credit; tips are on top
- Compared to federal
- Higher than federal.
New Hampshire
- Minimum wage
- $7.25/hr (federal)
- Tipped minimum
- $3.27 cash + tips (45% of minimum)
- Compared to federal
- Same as federal — New Hampshire uses the federal rate.
New Jersey
- Minimum wage
- $15.92/hr (most employers; $15.23 seasonal/small)
- Tipped minimum
- $6.05 cash + tips
- Compared to federal
- Higher than federal.
New Mexico
- Minimum wage
- $12.00/hr
- Tipped minimum
- $3.00 cash + tips
- Compared to federal
- Higher than federal. Santa Fe, Albuquerque, and Las Cruces set more.
New York
- Minimum wage
- $17.00 (NYC, Long Island, Westchester) / $16.00 (rest of state)
- Tipped minimum
- Food-service tipped cash: $11.35 downstate / $10.70 upstate
- Compared to federal
- Higher than federal.
North Carolina
- Minimum wage
- $7.25/hr (federal)
- Tipped minimum
- $2.13 cash + tips
- Compared to federal
- Same as federal — no higher state rate.
North Dakota
- Minimum wage
- $7.25/hr (federal)
- Tipped minimum
- $4.86 cash + tips (67% of minimum)
- Compared to federal
- Same as federal — North Dakota matches the federal rate.
Ohio
- Minimum wage
- $11.00/hr (employers over $405k gross; smaller employers pay $7.25)
- Tipped minimum
- $5.50 cash + tips
- Compared to federal
- Higher than federal (indexed to inflation yearly).
Oklahoma
- Minimum wage
- $7.25/hr (federal)
- Tipped minimum
- $2.13 cash + tips
- Compared to federal
- Same as federal — Oklahoma adopts the federal rate.
Oregon
- Minimum wage
- $15.55/hr standard (Portland metro $16.80; non-urban $14.55)
- Tipped minimum
- $15.55 — no tip credit; tips are on top
- Compared to federal
- Higher than federal (rates change every July 1).
Pennsylvania
- Minimum wage
- $7.25/hr (federal)
- Tipped minimum
- $2.83 cash + tips
- Compared to federal
- Same as federal — no higher state rate.
Rhode Island
- Minimum wage
- $16.00/hr (Jan 1, 2026)
- Tipped minimum
- $3.89 cash + tips
- Compared to federal
- Higher than federal. Rises to $17.00 on Jan 1, 2027.
South Carolina
- Minimum wage
- $7.25/hr (federal)
- Tipped minimum
- $2.13 cash + tips
- Compared to federal
- Same as federal — South Carolina has no state minimum.
South Dakota
- Minimum wage
- $11.85/hr (Jan 1, 2026)
- Tipped minimum
- $5.925 cash + tips (50% of minimum)
- Compared to federal
- Higher than federal (indexed yearly).
Tennessee
- Minimum wage
- $7.25/hr (federal)
- Tipped minimum
- $2.13 cash + tips
- Compared to federal
- Same as federal — Tennessee has no state minimum.
Texas
- Minimum wage
- $7.25/hr (federal)
- Tipped minimum
- $2.13 cash + tips
- Compared to federal
- Same as federal — Texas has no higher state rate.
Utah
- Minimum wage
- $7.25/hr (federal)
- Tipped minimum
- $2.13 cash + tips
- Compared to federal
- Same as federal — no higher state rate.
Vermont
- Minimum wage
- $14.42/hr (Jan 1, 2026)
- Tipped minimum
- $7.21 cash + tips (50% of minimum)
- Compared to federal
- Higher than federal (indexed yearly).
Virginia
- Minimum wage
- $12.77/hr
- Tipped minimum
- $2.13 cash + tips (must reach $12.77 total)
- Compared to federal
- Higher than federal (indexed yearly).
Washington
- Minimum wage
- $17.13/hr (highest in the nation)
- Tipped minimum
- $17.13 — no tip credit; tips are on top
- Compared to federal
- Higher than federal. Seattle and some cities set more.
West Virginia
- Minimum wage
- $8.75/hr (employers with 6+ workers)
- Tipped minimum
- $2.62 cash + tips
- Compared to federal
- Higher than federal.
Wisconsin
- Minimum wage
- $7.25/hr (federal)
- Tipped minimum
- $2.33 cash + tips
- Compared to federal
- Same as federal — no higher state rate.
Wyoming
- Minimum wage
- $7.25/hr (federal FLSA applies)
- Tipped minimum
- $2.13 cash + tips
- Compared to federal
- State statute lists $5.15, but the federal $7.25 applies to covered employers.
Educational only — not legal advice. Laws change; confirm the current rule with the linked official source before you rely on it.
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