Minimum Wage by State, 2000 to 2026
Washington has the highest state minimum wage in this series at $17.13 in July 2026, ahead of New York at $17.00 and Connecticut at $16.94.
Free to edit and export · No signup to start
What the data shows
- In 2026, Washington ranks #1 with $17.13, ahead of New York ($17.00) and Connecticut ($16.94).
- The top spot changed hands once: Washington in 2002.
- Biggest climber: New York, from #12 in 2000 to #2 in 2026.
- Washington grew 2.6× between 2000 and 2026.
About this chart
Washington has held the highest state minimum wage in most years of this series, moving from $6.50 in 2000 (tied with Oregon) to $17.13 in July 2026. The exceptions are 2001, when Massachusetts was ahead, 2016, when California and Massachusetts were at $10.00, and 2017, when Washington and Massachusetts tied at $11.00. California rose from $5.75 to $16.90 over the same period. In 2026 New York ($17.00), Connecticut ($16.94), Hawaii and Rhode Island ($16.00 each) fill out the top group.
The data is from the U.S. Department of Labor and shows nominal dollars per hour, not adjusted for inflation. The federal minimum has been $7.25 since July 2009, and Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina and Tennessee have no state minimum wage. Where states have local or size-based rates, the standard statewide rate is used; New York's $17.00 is the New York City, Long Island and Westchester rate, and upstate is $16.00. 2025 is not shown. DC ($18.40) is excluded.
The data
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division: "Changes in Basic Minimum Wages in Non-Farm Employment Under State Law: Selected Years 1968 to 2024" (2000-2024 columns) and the "Consolidated Minimum Wage Table" (effective July 1, 2026). Retrieved November 4, 2026. 2000-2024 values are the DOL history-table figures (basic state rate, nominal dollars per hour); 2025 is omitted because the DOL history table ends at 2024 and the consolidated table only gives the July 1, 2026 rates. Where a state has sub-state or size-based rates the figure is the standard statewide rate for the history years and the standard rate for 2026 (e.g. Oregon $15.55 standard, Portland metro $16.80; New York $17.00 is the NYC/Long Island/Westchester rate, upstate $16.00; New Jersey $15.92 non-seasonal). The Arizona cell is blank before 2007 when the DOL table shows no state rate; DC ($18.40) is not a state and is excluded. Selection: 11 highest states in 2026 plus Massachusetts, Maryland and Oregon, which led or were top-5 in earlier years.
| Date | Washington | New York | Connecticut | California | Hawaii | Rhode Island | New Jersey | Oregon | Colorado | Arizona | Maine | Maryland | Massachusetts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | $6.50 | $4.25 | $6.15 | $5.75 | $5.25 | $5.65 | $5.15 | $6.50 | $5.15 | $5.15 | $5.15 | $6.00 | |
| 2001 | $6.72 | $5.15 | $6.40 | $6.25 | $5.25 | $6.15 | $5.15 | $6.50 | $5.15 | $5.15 | $5.15 | $6.75 | |
| 2002 | $6.90 | $5.15 | $6.70 | $6.75 | $5.75 | $6.15 | $5.15 | $6.50 | $5.15 | $5.75 | $5.15 | $6.75 | |
| 2003 | $7.01 | $5.15 | $6.90 | $6.75 | $6.25 | $6.15 | $5.15 | $6.90 | $5.15 | $6.25 | $5.15 | $6.75 | |
| 2004 | $7.16 | $5.15 | $7.10 | $6.75 | $6.25 | $6.75 | $5.15 | $7.05 | $5.15 | $6.25 | $5.15 | $6.75 | |
| 2005 | $7.35 | $6.00 | $7.10 | $6.75 | $6.25 | $6.75 | $5.15 | $7.25 | $5.15 | $6.35 | $5.15 | $6.75 | |
| 2006 | $7.63 | $6.75 | $7.40 | $6.75 | $6.75 | $6.75 | $6.15 | $7.50 | $5.15 | $6.50 | $5.15 | $6.75 | |
| 2007 | $7.93 | $7.15 | $7.65 | $7.50 | $7.25 | $7.40 | $7.15 | $7.80 | $6.85 | $6.75 | $6.75 | $6.15 | $7.50 |
| 2008 | $8.07 | $7.15 | $7.65 | $8.00 | $7.25 | $7.40 | $7.15 | $7.95 | $7.02 | $6.90 | $7.00 | $6.15 | $8.00 |
| 2009 | $8.55 | $7.15 | $8.00 | $8.00 | $7.25 | $7.40 | $7.15 | $8.40 | $7.28 | $7.25 | $7.25 | $6.55 | $8.00 |
| 2010 | $8.55 | $7.25 | $8.25 | $8.00 | $7.25 | $7.40 | $7.25 | $8.40 | $7.24 | $7.25 | $7.50 | $7.25 | $8.00 |
| 2011 | $8.67 | $7.25 | $8.25 | $8.00 | $7.25 | $7.40 | $7.25 | $8.50 | $7.36 | $7.35 | $7.50 | $7.25 | $8.00 |
| 2012 | $9.04 | $7.25 | $8.25 | $8.00 | $7.25 | $7.40 | $7.25 | $8.80 | $7.64 | $7.65 | $7.50 | $7.25 | $8.00 |
| 2013 | $9.19 | $7.25 | $8.25 | $8.00 | $7.25 | $7.75 | $7.25 | $8.95 | $7.78 | $7.80 | $7.50 | $7.25 | $8.00 |
| 2014 | $9.32 | $8.00 | $8.70 | $9.00 | $7.25 | $8.00 | $8.25 | $9.10 | $8.00 | $7.90 | $7.50 | $7.25 | $8.00 |
| 2015 | $9.47 | $8.75 | $9.15 | $9.00 | $7.75 | $9.00 | $8.38 | $9.25 | $8.23 | $8.05 | $7.50 | $8.25 | $9.00 |
| 2016 | $9.47 | $9.00 | $9.60 | $10.00 | $8.50 | $9.60 | $8.38 | $9.75 | $8.31 | $8.05 | $7.50 | $8.75 | $10.00 |
| 2017 | $11.00 | $9.70 | $10.10 | $10.00 | $9.25 | $9.60 | $8.44 | $9.75 | $9.30 | $10.00 | $9.00 | $8.75 | $11.00 |
| 2018 | $11.50 | $10.40 | $10.10 | $11.00 | $10.10 | $10.10 | $8.60 | $10.75 | $10.20 | $10.50 | $10.00 | $10.10 | $11.00 |
| 2019 | $13.50 | $11.80 | $11.00 | $12.00 | $10.10 | $10.50 | $11.00 | $11.25 | $12.00 | $12.00 | $12.00 | $11.00 | $12.00 |
| 2020 | $13.50 | $11.80 | $12.00 | $12.00 | $10.10 | $11.50 | $11.00 | $12.00 | $12.02 | $12.00 | $12.00 | $11.00 | $12.75 |
| 2021 | $13.69 | $12.50 | $13.00 | $13.00 | $10.10 | $11.50 | $12.00 | $12.75 | $12.32 | $12.15 | $12.15 | $11.75 | $13.50 |
| 2022 | $14.49 | $13.20 | $14.00 | $14.00 | $12.00 | $12.25 | $13.00 | $13.50 | $12.56 | $12.80 | $12.75 | $12.50 | $14.25 |
| 2023 | $15.74 | $14.20 | $15.00 | $15.50 | $12.00 | $13.00 | $14.13 | $14.20 | $13.65 | $13.85 | $13.80 | $13.25 | $15.00 |
| 2024 | $16.28 | $15.00 | $15.69 | $16.00 | $14.00 | $14.00 | $15.13 | $14.70 | $14.42 | $14.35 | $14.15 | $15.00 | $15.00 |
| 2026 | $17.13 | $17.00 | $16.94 | $16.90 | $16.00 | $16.00 | $15.92 | $15.55 | $15.16 | $15.15 | $15.10 | $15.00 | $15.00 |
Post it
Suggested caption: “Washington's minimum wage went from $6.50 to $17.13 since 2000.” Credit the source in your caption; it heads off the 'source?' comments.
Make it yours
- Switch between bar, line, column and donut races with one click.
- Pick 9:16 for Reels and TikTok, 4:5 for the feed or 16:9 for YouTube.
- Change the theme, font, colors and race length, and add your own captions.
- Paste your own numbers from Excel or Google Sheets. See the bar chart race maker for tips.
Frequently asked questions
Which state has the highest minimum wage?
Washington, at $17.13 an hour from July 1, 2026. New York's $17.00 rate applies in New York City, Long Island and Westchester, and Connecticut is at $16.94. DC, which is not a state, is higher at $18.40.
What is the federal minimum wage?
$7.25 an hour, unchanged since July 2009. States may set a higher rate, and most of those charted here pay more than double it.
Which states have no state minimum wage?
Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina and Tennessee have no state minimum wage law, according to the Labor Department data used here, so the federal $7.25 applies.
Where does this data come from?
U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division: "Changes in Basic Minimum Wages in Non-Farm Employment Under State Law: Selected Years 1968 to 2024" (2000-2024 columns) and the "Consolidated Minimum Wage Table" (effective July 1, 2026). Retrieved November 4, 2026. 2000-2024 values are the DOL history-table figures (basic state rate, nominal dollars per hour); 2025 is omitted because the DOL history table ends at 2024 and the consolidated table only gives the July 1, 2026 rates. Where a state has sub-state or size-based rates the figure is the standard statewide rate for the history years and the standard rate for 2026 (e.g. Oregon $15.55 standard, Portland metro $16.80; New York $17.00 is the NYC/Long Island/Westchester rate, upstate $16.00; New Jersey $15.92 non-seasonal). The Arizona cell is blank before 2007 when the DOL table shows no state rate; DC ($18.40) is not a state and is excluded. Selection: 11 highest states in 2026 plus Massachusetts, Maryland and Oregon, which led or were top-5 in earlier years. You can download the full table as a CSV from this page.
Can I turn this chart into a video?
Yes. Open it in the editor, change the title, theme, colors or format (9:16 for Reels and TikTok, 16:9 for YouTube), and export an MP4. Free exports are 720p with a small watermark; Pro ($11.99/month) removes it and adds 1080p, 4K and 60 fps.
Related data
All us states chartsMurder Rate by State
Louisiana has had the highest murder rate of any state every year from 1990 to 2024, at 10.8 per 100,000 in 2024 against 5.0 nationally.
Adult Obesity Rate by State
West Virginia had the highest adult obesity rate in 2024 at 41.4%, ahead of Mississippi at 40.4%. In 2011 no state reached 35%.
Average presidential approval
Kennedy has the highest Gallup average approval at 70.1%, ahead of Eisenhower at 65.0%. Trump's first term averaged 41.1%, the lowest of 13.
- Sales Tax by State
- Top State Income Tax Rates
- Wyoming population by year, 1990 to 2025
- Alaska population by year, 1990 to 2025
- Idaho population by year, 1990 to 2025
- Rhode Island population by year, 1990 to 2025
- New York population by year, 1990 to 2025
- Texas population by year, 1990 to 2025
- Montana population by year, 1990 to 2025