{
  "meta": {
    "updated": "2026-10-11",
    "federal_minimum_wage": 7.25,
    "source": "U.S. Department of Labor state minimum wage table (updated July 1, 2026) and state labor agencies (DC DOES, Oregon BOLI, Alaska DOLWD, Nevada Labor Commissioner, FloridaCommerce); originally compiled from Paycor, Paycom, OnPay, NCSL, and NELP 2026 tables",
    "notes": "Rates in effect as of October 11, 2026, including mid-year changes in Alaska (July 1), D.C. (July 1), Oregon (July 1), and Florida (September 30). Special local or industry rates (e.g., CA fast food, NYC) not shown."
  },
  "states": [
    { "code": "AL", "name": "Alabama",       "wage": 7.25,  "federal": true,  "note": "No state minimum wage law — federal rate applies." },
    { "code": "AK", "name": "Alaska",        "wage": 14.00, "federal": false, "note": "Rose from $13.00 on July 1, 2026 (2024 Ballot Measure 1). Rises to $15.00 on July 1, 2027; inflation-indexed after that." },
    { "code": "AZ", "name": "Arizona",       "wage": 15.15, "federal": false, "note": "Indexed to inflation annually." },
    { "code": "AR", "name": "Arkansas",      "wage": 11.00, "federal": false, "note": "Last raised by 2018 ballot measure." },
    { "code": "CA", "name": "California",    "wage": 16.90, "federal": false, "note": "Higher local wages in many cities. Fast-food industry floor: $20.00." },
    { "code": "CO", "name": "Colorado",      "wage": 15.16, "federal": false, "note": "Indexed annually. Denver and other localities are higher." },
    { "code": "CT", "name": "Connecticut",   "wage": 16.94, "federal": false, "note": "Indexed annually to CPI." },
    { "code": "DE", "name": "Delaware",      "wage": 15.00, "federal": false, "note": "Not indexed." },
    { "code": "DC", "name": "District of Columbia", "wage": 18.40, "federal": false, "note": "Highest in the nation. Rose from $17.95 on July 1, 2026; CPI-indexed each July 1. Tipped cash wage: $10.30." },
    { "code": "FL", "name": "Florida",       "wage": 15.00, "federal": false, "note": "Rose from $14.00 on September 30, 2026, the final step of the 2020 constitutional amendment. Future adjustments track inflation." },
    { "code": "GA", "name": "Georgia",       "wage": 7.25,  "federal": true,  "note": "State rate of $5.15 applies only to non-FLSA workers; federal rate governs most." },
    { "code": "HI", "name": "Hawaii",        "wage": 16.00, "federal": false, "note": "Rises to $18.00 on January 1, 2028." },
    { "code": "ID", "name": "Idaho",         "wage": 7.25,  "federal": true,  "note": "Tied to federal minimum wage." },
    { "code": "IL", "name": "Illinois",      "wage": 15.00, "federal": false, "note": "Reached $15.00 in 2025; not indexed." },
    { "code": "IN", "name": "Indiana",       "wage": 7.25,  "federal": true,  "note": "Tied to federal minimum wage." },
    { "code": "IA", "name": "Iowa",          "wage": 7.25,  "federal": true,  "note": "Tied to federal minimum wage." },
    { "code": "KS", "name": "Kansas",        "wage": 7.25,  "federal": true,  "note": "Tied to federal minimum wage." },
    { "code": "KY", "name": "Kentucky",      "wage": 7.25,  "federal": true,  "note": "Tied to federal minimum wage." },
    { "code": "LA", "name": "Louisiana",     "wage": 7.25,  "federal": true,  "note": "No state minimum wage law — federal rate applies." },
    { "code": "ME", "name": "Maine",         "wage": 15.10, "federal": false, "note": "Indexed annually to cost of living." },
    { "code": "MD", "name": "Maryland",      "wage": 15.00, "federal": false, "note": "Higher county rates in Montgomery County." },
    { "code": "MA", "name": "Massachusetts", "wage": 15.00, "federal": false, "note": "Fixed at $15.00 since 2023; not indexed. State law requires at least $0.50 above the federal rate." },
    { "code": "MI", "name": "Michigan",      "wage": 13.73, "federal": false, "note": "Scheduled step increases following 2024 ruling; rises to $15.00 on January 1, 2027." },
    { "code": "MN", "name": "Minnesota",     "wage": 11.41, "federal": false, "note": "Large and small employers share one rate. 90-day training wage for workers under 20: $9.31. Rises to $11.87 on January 1, 2027." },
    { "code": "MS", "name": "Mississippi",   "wage": 7.25,  "federal": true,  "note": "No state minimum wage law — federal rate applies." },
    { "code": "MO", "name": "Missouri",      "wage": 15.00, "federal": false, "note": "Raised by 2024 ballot measure (Prop A). 2025 law (HB 567) repealed the inflation indexing that was to start in 2027." },
    { "code": "MT", "name": "Montana",       "wage": 10.85, "federal": false, "note": "Indexed annually; no tip credit." },
    { "code": "NE", "name": "Nebraska",      "wage": 15.00, "federal": false, "note": "Reached $15.00 by 2022 ballot measure. LB 258 (2026) replaced the voter-approved CPI indexing with a flat 1.75% annual increase ($15.26 on Jan 1, 2027)." },
    { "code": "NV", "name": "Nevada",        "wage": 12.00, "federal": false, "note": "Single rate for all employees regardless of tips; unchanged at the July 1, 2026 adjustment." },
    { "code": "NH", "name": "New Hampshire", "wage": 7.25,  "federal": true,  "note": "Tied to federal minimum wage." },
    { "code": "NJ", "name": "New Jersey",    "wage": 15.92, "federal": false, "note": "Small/seasonal employers: $15.23; agricultural: $14.20." },
    { "code": "NM", "name": "New Mexico",    "wage": 12.00, "federal": false, "note": "Not indexed." },
    { "code": "NY", "name": "New York",      "wage": 16.00, "federal": false, "note": "$17.00 in NYC, Long Island, and Westchester." },
    { "code": "NC", "name": "North Carolina","wage": 7.25,  "federal": true,  "note": "Tied to federal minimum wage." },
    { "code": "ND", "name": "North Dakota",  "wage": 7.25,  "federal": true,  "note": "Tied to federal minimum wage." },
    { "code": "OH", "name": "Ohio",          "wage": 11.00, "federal": false, "note": "Small employers (<$405K receipts) may pay federal rate." },
    { "code": "OK", "name": "Oklahoma",      "wage": 7.25,  "federal": true,  "note": "Tied to federal minimum wage." },
    { "code": "OR", "name": "Oregon",        "wage": 15.55, "federal": false, "note": "Standard rate since July 1, 2026 (was $15.05). Portland metro: $16.80. Non-urban counties: $14.55. Indexed each July 1." },
    { "code": "PA", "name": "Pennsylvania",  "wage": 7.25,  "federal": true,  "note": "Tied to federal minimum wage." },
    { "code": "RI", "name": "Rhode Island",  "wage": 16.00, "federal": false, "note": "Rises to $17.00 on January 1, 2027." },
    { "code": "SC", "name": "South Carolina","wage": 7.25,  "federal": true,  "note": "No state minimum wage law — federal rate applies." },
    { "code": "SD", "name": "South Dakota",  "wage": 11.85, "federal": false, "note": "Indexed annually to CPI." },
    { "code": "TN", "name": "Tennessee",     "wage": 7.25,  "federal": true,  "note": "No state minimum wage law — federal rate applies." },
    { "code": "TX", "name": "Texas",         "wage": 7.25,  "federal": true,  "note": "Tied to federal minimum wage." },
    { "code": "UT", "name": "Utah",          "wage": 7.25,  "federal": true,  "note": "Tied to federal minimum wage." },
    { "code": "VT", "name": "Vermont",       "wage": 14.42, "federal": false, "note": "Indexed annually." },
    { "code": "VA", "name": "Virginia",      "wage": 12.77, "federal": false, "note": "CPI-indexed since 2025. A 2026 law sets $13.75 on Jan 1, 2027 and $15.00 in 2028, then CPI indexing resumes." },
    { "code": "WA", "name": "Washington",    "wage": 17.13, "federal": false, "note": "Highest state rate; some cities (Seattle, Tukwila) much higher." },
    { "code": "WV", "name": "West Virginia", "wage": 8.75,  "federal": false, "note": "Not indexed." },
    { "code": "WI", "name": "Wisconsin",     "wage": 7.25,  "federal": true,  "note": "Tied to federal minimum wage." },
    { "code": "WY", "name": "Wyoming",       "wage": 7.25,  "federal": true,  "note": "State rate of $5.15 applies only to non-FLSA workers; federal rate governs most." }
  ]
}