💵 Money › Minimum wage 2027
16 states raise pay Jan 1, 2027 · checked Oct 19, 2026Minimum Wage by State 2027: Every Raise on January 1
By The Trends Incoming team · Published Oct 19, 2026 · Last updated Oct 19, 2026
Short answer: 16 states raise their minimum wage on January 1, 2027. Washington tops the list at $17.73, and Michigan gets the biggest bump, up $1.27 to $15.00. Fifteen states have a confirmed number; Vermont is the one still pending. New York stays put, and the federal minimum is still $7.25. Every rate below links to the official state source. 🎉
📊 2027 minimum wage by state (January 1 raises)
Sorted from highest to lowest. Official means the state labor agency announced it. Set by law means the number is written into state law. Pending means the state hasn't posted it yet. Tap a state name for its full guide.
| State | Now (2026) | Jan 1, 2027 | Raise | Status | Tipped cash wage 2027 | Notes and official source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $17.13 | $17.73 | +$0.60 | OFFICIAL | No tip credit | Ages 14 to 15: $15.07 WA L&I: 2027 minimum wage |
| Connecticut | $16.94 | $17.48 | +$0.54 | OFFICIAL | See source | CT Governor's office, Aug 5, 2026 |
| California | $16.90 | $17.40 | +$0.50 | OFFICIAL | No tip credit | Many cities set higher local rates CA DIR release 2026-66 |
| Rhode Island | $16.00 | $17.00 | +$1.00 | SET BY LAW | See source | RI DLT minimum wage (RIGL 28-12) |
| New Jersey | $15.92 | $16.48 | +$0.56 | OFFICIAL | $6.61 | Small (under 6 employees) and seasonal: $16.25 NJDOL release, Sep 29, 2026 |
| Colorado | $15.16 | $15.71 | +$0.55 | OFFICIAL | $12.69 | Denver: $19.84 CDLE release, Aug 13, 2026 |
| Maine | $15.10 | $15.70 | +$0.60 | OFFICIAL | $7.85 | Maine DOL minimum wage table |
| Arizona | $15.15 | $15.65 | +$0.50 | OFFICIAL | $12.65 | $3.00 tip credit Industrial Commission of Arizona: 2027 poster (Sep 25, 2026) |
| Nebraska | $15.00 | $15.26 | +$0.26 | SET BY LAW | See source | Raise fixed at 1.75% a year Nebraska DOL minimum wage schedule (LB 258) |
| Michigan | $13.73 | $15.00 | +$1.27 | SET BY LAW | $6.30 | Under 18: $12.75 Michigan LEO minimum wage FAQ |
| Vermont | $14.42 | Pending | TBA | PENDING | Pending | Not posted yet; Bloomberg Tax projects $14.91 Vermont DOL wage and hour |
| Virginia | $12.77 | $13.75 | +$0.98 | SET BY LAW | See source | $15.00 on Jan 1, 2028 Code of Virginia 40.1-28.10 |
| South Dakota | $11.85 | $12.30 | +$0.45 | OFFICIAL | $6.15 | SD DLR 2027 poster |
| Minnesota | $11.41 | $11.87 | +$0.46 | OFFICIAL | See source | Training wage under 20: $9.68 MN DLI release, Aug 19, 2026 |
| Ohio | $11.00 | $11.40 | +$0.40 | OFFICIAL | $5.70 | Employers grossing under $419,000: federal $7.25 Ohio Commerce 2027 poster |
| Montana | $10.85 | $11.20 | +$0.35 | OFFICIAL | See source | Some small non-FLSA businesses: $4.00 Montana DLI 2027 poster |
| New York | $17.00 / $16.00 | $17.00 / $16.00 | No raise | OFFICIAL | $14.15 / $13.30 (service) | NYC, Long Island, Westchester / rest of state NY State DOL |
| Federal | $7.25 | $7.25 | No change | OFFICIAL | $2.13 | Applies where state law is lower or missing U.S. DOL |
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🧮 Paycheck calculator: what does the raise mean for me?
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💰 What the raise adds for a full-time worker
The hourly raise times 2,080 hours (40 hours a week, 52 weeks), before taxes, for someone paid exactly the minimum:
| State | Hourly raise | Extra per year (full time) |
|---|---|---|
| Michigan | +$1.27 | $2,641.60 |
| Rhode Island | +$1.00 | $2,080.00 |
| Virginia | +$0.98 | $2,038.40 |
| Washington | +$0.60 | $1,248.00 |
| Maine | +$0.60 | $1,248.00 |
| New Jersey | +$0.56 | $1,164.80 |
| Colorado | +$0.55 | $1,144.00 |
| Connecticut | +$0.54 | $1,123.20 |
| California | +$0.50 | $1,040.00 |
| Arizona | +$0.50 | $1,040.00 |
| Minnesota | +$0.46 | $956.80 |
| South Dakota | +$0.45 | $936.00 |
| Ohio | +$0.40 | $832.00 |
| Montana | +$0.35 | $728.00 |
| Nebraska | +$0.26 | $540.80 |
🍽️ Tipped workers
In many states the tipped cash wage moves with the minimum, and tips have to make up the rest. If cash wage plus tips falls short, the employer pays the difference. A few 2027 numbers straight from the states: Colorado $12.69, Arizona $12.65, Maine $7.85, New Jersey $6.61, Michigan $6.30 (42% of the minimum), South Dakota $6.15 and Ohio $5.70. California and Washington don't allow a tip credit at all, so tipped workers get the full minimum.
⏳ The pending one: Vermont
Vermont ties its minimum wage to inflation and raises it every January 1, but it hadn't posted the 2027 number when we checked on October 19, 2026 (today it's $14.42). Bloomberg Tax's calculation points to about $14.91; we'll swap in the official rate the day Vermont posts it.
Heads up on early reports: some trackers still list Arizona as "expected." It's final. The Industrial Commission of Arizona posted its 2027 poster on September 25, 2026: $15.65.
🗽 Not going up on January 1
New York skips its 2027 inflation raise because an off-ramp in state law was triggered, so it stays $17.00 downstate and $16.00 upstate. The federal $7.25 hasn't changed either. Several other states adjust on different dates, so check your state labor department if yours isn't listed.
🌴 California minimum wage 2027
The new rate, the $72,384 exempt salary line, and local rates.
🌲 Washington minimum wage 2027
Highest state rate in the country, plus the new overtime-exempt salaries.
🚗 Michigan minimum wage 2027
$15.00 and what it means for your paycheck, plus tipped and youth rates.
🗽 New York minimum wage 2027
Why it's staying at $17.00 and $16.00, and who still gets a raise.
🏖️ New Jersey minimum wage 2027
Standard, small employer, seasonal, farm and tipped rates.
✅ Small business payroll checklist
Ten things to do before your first 2027 payroll.
Quick answers
Which states raise the minimum wage on January 1, 2027?
Sixteen states: Washington, Connecticut, California, Rhode Island, New Jersey, Colorado, Maine, Arizona, Nebraska, Michigan, Vermont, Virginia, South Dakota, Minnesota, Ohio and Montana. Fifteen have a confirmed rate. Vermont hasn't posted its 2027 rate yet (checked October 19, 2026).
What is the highest state minimum wage in 2027?
Washington, at $17.73 an hour from January 1, 2027. Connecticut ($17.48) and California ($17.40) are next. Some cities and Washington, D.C. are higher.
Which state has the biggest minimum wage raise in 2027?
Michigan, up $1.27 from $13.73 to $15.00 an hour. Rhode Island goes up $1.00 to $17.00, and Virginia goes up $0.98 to $13.75.
Is New York's minimum wage going up in 2027?
No. The New York State Department of Labor says it stays $17.00 in New York City, Long Island and Westchester and $16.00 in the rest of the state on January 1, 2027, because an inflation off-ramp in state law was triggered. Home care aides are the exception.
Is the federal minimum wage going up in 2027?
No. The federal minimum wage is $7.25 an hour and no change is scheduled.
Is Arizona's 2027 minimum wage final?
Yes. The Industrial Commission of Arizona posted its 2027 minimum wage poster on September 25, 2026, showing $15.65 an hour, with a $12.65 tipped cash wage.
If my city has a higher minimum wage, which one applies?
Generally the highest one that covers you: federal, state or local. This page lists statewide rates. Check your city or county, especially in California, Washington, Colorado and Maine.
Is this legal advice?
No. It's general information from official state sources. Confirm your situation with your state labor department or a qualified professional.
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Sources
- Washington: WA L&I: 2027 minimum wage
- Connecticut: CT Governor's office, Aug 5, 2026
- California: CA DIR release 2026-66
- Rhode Island: RI DLT minimum wage (RIGL 28-12)
- New Jersey: NJDOL release, Sep 29, 2026
- Colorado: CDLE release, Aug 13, 2026
- Maine: Maine DOL minimum wage table
- Arizona: Industrial Commission of Arizona: 2027 poster (Sep 25, 2026)
- Nebraska: Nebraska DOL minimum wage schedule (LB 258)
- Michigan: Michigan LEO minimum wage FAQ
- Vermont: Vermont DOL wage and hour
- Virginia: Code of Virginia 40.1-28.10
- South Dakota: SD DLR 2027 poster
- Minnesota: MN DLI release, Aug 19, 2026
- Ohio: Ohio Commerce 2027 poster
- Montana: Montana DLI 2027 poster
- New York State DOL: minimum wage (no raise on Jan 1, 2027)
- U.S. Department of Labor: state minimum wage laws (federal $7.25)
- Bloomberg Tax: Arizona confirms $15.65 from the state poster (Oct 9, 2026)
- Bloomberg Tax: Vermont expected to rise to $14.91 (projection, Sep 11, 2026)
- WA L&I news release 26-17: $17.73 and overtime-exempt salaries (Sep 30, 2026)
By The Trends Incoming team · Fact-checked Oct 19, 2026. Dates and rates change, so double-check with the official source.