Which U.S. States Have the Highest Minimum Wage?
What We’re Showing
The U.S. states with the highest minimum wage, based on data from Bloomberg Law.
Minimum Wages Rising, But Slowly
This year, 22 states are raising their minimum wage, affecting almost 10 million workers across the country.
The federal minimum wage stands at $7.25, a rate that has remained the same for fifteen years.
Top States
Overall, 13 states plus the District of Columbia adjust minimum wage increases in response to inflation, including New York, Arizona, Colorado, and Maine. Unsurprisingly, many of these states have the highest minimum wage nationally.
At $17 per hour, the District of Columbia has the highest minimum wage in the country.
Next in line is Washington state, where the minimum wage was raised to $16.28 at the start of the year, up from $15.74 an hour.
Hawaii plans to increase its minimum wage to $18 an hour by 2028, the largest planned increase nationally. Currently, the minimum wage in the Aloha State is $14 an hour.
California’s New Law
In April 2024, California passed a law raising the minimum wage for fast-food workers to $20 an hour, affecting half a million workers.
The law applies to chains with 60 or more locations across the country, allowing workers to earn $4 more than the state's minimum wage.