Minimum Wages and Exemption Thresholds Adjusted Across the USA | Epstein Becker Green https://www.wagehourblog.com/minimum-wages-and-exemption-thresholds-adjusted-across-the-usa Fri, 07 Aug 2026 14:28:52 -0700 Adriana S. Kosovych https://www.ebglaw.com/people/adriana-s-kosovych bio-adriana-s-kosovych Adam Loch https://www.ebglaw.com/people/adam-loch bio-adam-loch Minimum Wages and Exemption Thresholds Adjusted Across the USA Adriana S. Kosovych, Adam Loch blogpost-minimum-wages-and-exemption-thresholds-adjusted-across-the-usa Wed, 07 Jan 2026 09:00:03 -0800 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.

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