/>i
As the New Year began, new minimum wage rates took effect in numerous states and localities nationwide.
Effective January 1, 2026, 18 states, along with many local jurisdictions, raised their minimum wage requirements, and six states adjusted salary thresholds for exempt executive, administrative, and professional employees. Employers should review these changes and ensure ongoing compliance.
2026 Minimum Wage Increases by State: New Rates Effective January 1*
| Jurisdiction | 2025 Minimum Wage | NEW 2026 Minimum Wage |
| Arizona – statewide | $14.70 | $15.15 |
| Flagstaff, AZ | $17.85 | $18.35 |
| Tucson, AZ | $15.00 | $15.45 |
| California – statewide | $16.50 | $16.90 |
| Menlo Park, CA | $17.10 | $17.55 |
| Santa Clara, CA | $18.20 | $18.70 |
| San Diego, CA | $17.25 | $17.75 |
| South San Francisco, CA | $17.70 | $18.15 |
| West Hollywood, CA | $19.65 | $20.25 |
| Connecticut | $16.35 | $16.94 |
| Hawaii | $14.00 | $16.00 |
| Maine – statewide | $14.65 | $15.10 |
| Portland, ME | $15.50 | $16.75 |
| Michigan | $12.48 | $13.73 |
| Minnesota – statewide | $11.13 | $11.41 |
| Minneapolis, MN | $15.97 | $16.37 |
| St. Paul, MN |
$15.97 (large businesses with 101 or more employees) $15.00 (small businesses with 6-100 employees) $13.25 (for micro businesses with 5 or fewer employees) |
$16.37 (large businesses with 101 or more employees) $15.00 (small businesses with 6-100 employees) $13.25 (micro businesses with 5 or fewer employees) |
| Missouri | $13.75 | $15.00 |
| Montana | $10.55 | $10.85 |
| Nebraska | $13.50 | $15.00 |
| New Jersey |
$15.49 (most employers) $14.53 (small employers with 5 or fewer employees) |
$15.92 (most employers) $15.23 (small employers with 5 or fewer employees) |
| New York (outside NYC, Long Island, and Westchester County) | $15.50 | $16.00 |
| New York City, Long Island, and Westchester County, NY | $16.50 | $17.00 |
| Ohio | $10.70 | $11.00 |
| Rhode Island | $15.00 | $16.00 |
| South Dakota | $11.50 | $11.85 |
| Vermont | $14.01 | $14.42 |
| Virginia | $12.41 | $12.77 |
| Washington – statewide | $16.66 | $17.13 |
| Seattle, WA | $20.76 | $21.30 |
| Tukwila, WA | $21.10 | $21.65 |
|
* This chart is not exhaustive of all localities’ minimum wage increases |
||
Salary Threshold Increases in 2026
In addition to these minimum wage increases, many states are also increasing the salary threshold for executive, administrative, and professional employees to be exempt from overtime requirements:
| Jurisdiction | 2025 Threshold (Annualized) | NEW 2026 Threshold (Annualized) |
| California | $68,640.00 | $70,304.00 |
| Colorado | $56,485.00 | $57,783.96 |
| New York (outside of NYC, Long Island, and Westchester) ** | $60,405.80 | $62,353.20 |
| New York City, Long Island, and Westchester ** | $64,350.00 | $66,300.00 |
| Maine | $43,951.00 | $45,300.32 |
| Washington | $77,968.80 | $80,168.40 |
|
** New York’s salary threshold does not apply to professional employees |
||
The following states are also increasing the threshold for computer employees to be considered exempt:
| Jurisdiction | 2025 Threshold | NEW 2026 Threshold |
| California | $56.97/hour or $118,657.43 annually | $58.85/hour or $122,574 annually |
| Colorado | $34.07/hour or $132,964 annually | $34.85/hour or $1,111.23 annually |
| Washington | $58.31/hour | $59.96/hour |
* Adam Loch, a Law Clerk – Admission Pending in Epstein Becker Green’s New York office, contributed to this post.
