A new year means new minimum wage requirements. While the minimum wage has stayed the same on the federal level for the past 16 years, states, cities and counties have passed a flurry of legislation.  

The impacts vary widely by state and city. In states such as Montana and Ohio, the change represents only a modest increase over the federal minimum. In cities such as Seattle and West Hollywood, the increases push the minimum wage to nearly three times the federal level. 

Below are the known increases as of January 1, 2026. 

January 1, 2026 Minimum Wage Changes by State:  

• Arizona: $15.15 
• California: $16.90 (exempt salary threshold will increase to $1,352 per week) 
• Colorado: $15.16 (exempt salary threshold will increase to $1,111.23 per week) 
• Connecticut: $16.94 
• Hawaii: $16.00 
• Maine: $15.10 (exempt salary threshold will increase to $871.16 per week) 
• Michigan: $13.73 
• Minnesota: $11.41 
• Missouri: $15.00 
• Montana: $10.85 
• Nebraska: $15.00 
• New Jersey: $15.92 (employers with six or more employees) and $15.23 (for seasonal employees and employers with fewer than six employees)  
• New York: $16.00 (exempt salary threshold will increase to $1,199.10 per week) 
• Ohio: $11.00 
• Rhode Island: $16.00 
• South Dakota: $11.85 
• Vermont: $14.42 
• Virginia: $12.77 
• Washington: $17.13 (exempt salary threshold will increase to $1,541.70 per week) 

 

January 1, 2026 Minimum Wage Changes by Locality:  

• Flagstaff, Arizona: $18.35   
• Tucson, Arizona: $15.45  
• Belmont, California: $18.95  
• Burlingame, California: $17.86  
• Cupertino, California: $18.70  
• Daly City, California: $17.50  
• East Palo Alto, California: $17.90  
• El Cerrito, California: $18.82  
• Foster City, California: $17.85  
• Half Moon Bay, California: $17.91  
• Hayward, California: $17.79 (employers with 26 or more employees) and $16.90 (employers with 25 or fewer employees)  
• Los Altos, California: $18.70  
• Menlo Park, California: $17.55  
• Mountain View, California: $19.70  
• Novato, California: $17.73 (employers with 100 or more employees), $17.46 (employers with 26 to 99 employees) and $16.90 (employers with 25 or fewer employees)  
• Oakland, California: $17.34 
• Palo Alto, California: $18.70  
• Petaluma, California: $18.31  
• Redwood City, California: $18.65  
• Richmond, California: $19.18 (for employers that pay less than $1.50 per hour toward medical benefits) and $17.68 (for employers that pay at least $1.50 per hour toward medical benefits)  
• San Carlos, California: $17.75  
• San Diego, California: $17.75  
• San Jose, California: $18.45  
• San Mateo, California: $18.60  
• San Mateo County, California (unincorporated areas only): $17.95  
• Santa Clara, California: $18.70  
• Santa Rosa, California: $18.21  
• Sonoma, California: $18.47 (employers with 26 or more employees) and $17.38 (employers with 25 or fewer employees)  
• South San Francisco, California: $18.15  
• West Hollywood, California: $20.25 (for non-hotel workers)  
• Boulder, Colorado: $16.82  
• Boulder, Colorado (unincorporated areas only): $17.99 
• Denver, Colorado: $19.29  
• Edgewater, Colorado: $18.17  
• Portland, Maine: $16.75 
• Rockland, Maine: $16.00  
• Howard County, Maryland: $15.50 (for employers with fewer than 15 employees)  
• Minneapolis, Minnesota: $16.37  
• St. Paul, Minnesota: $16.31 (for employers with 101 or more employees)  
• Las Cruces, New Mexico: $13.01  
• New York City, Long Island and Westchester County: $17.00   
• New York City, Nassau, Suffolk and Westchester counties: Exempt salary threshold will increase to $1,275 per week  
• Bellingham, Washington: $19.13  
• Burien, Washington: Employers are encouraged to consult legal counsel due to ongoing litigation 
• Everett, Washington: $18.77 (for employers with 15 to 499 employees or fewer than 15 employees with more than $2 million in gross revenue)   
• King County, Washington (unincorporated areas only): $19.82 (for employers with 16 to 499 employees), $19.82 (for employers with 15 or fewer employees and annual gross revenue of $2 million or greater) and $18.32 (for employers with 15 or fewer employees and annual gross revenue of less than $2 million)  
• Renton, Washington: $20.57 (for employers with 15 to 500 employees worldwide and for employers with 1 to 14 employees with over $2 million of annual gross revenue in Renton)  
• Seattle, Washington: $21.30  
• SeaTac, Washington: $20.74 (for hospitality and transportation employees)  
• Tukwila, Washington: $21.65 

 

Keeping up with wage requirements and changes is a time-consuming task. isolved HR Services can help, no matter your industry, size or location.  

Make sure you’re covered, click here to learn how isolved HR Services can support your workforce.  

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