The minimum wage is a key topic when discussing the new year. As is often said, it seems that food, housing, and gas prices are rising… but wages don’t usually keep pace. The fact is that 19 US states will increase the minimum wage starting in January 2026. Dozens more cities and counties are also implementing increases, raising the minimum wage in some of the most expensive areas of the country. This comes as good news for citizens.
The adjustment impacts millions of low-income workers following the implementation of local regulations
Inflation has led to many families struggling to make ends meet. Therefore, these measures come at a time when families are grappling with higher daily expenses and tighter budgets. The adjustment impacts millions of low-income workers following the implementation of local regulations and automatic cost-of-living adjustment mechanisms. The high inflation the country is experiencing, due in part to Donald Trump’s tariffs, has made 2025 a particularly challenging year for household finances.
The new report from the National Jobs Law Project indicates that 49 cities will also raise their minimum wages
Thus, some workers in the country will receive an increase in the minimum wage starting in January if they reside in one of the nineteen states included in this increase, according to official information from the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL). The new report from the National Jobs Law Project indicates that 49 cities and counties will also raise their minimum wages on January 1.
It is important to stay informed about the circumstances surrounding wage increases, as they do not affect everyone equally. The change impacts millions of employees in the service, trade, and agricultural sectors, who are affected by updates implemented through state legislation and automatic adjustments linked to inflation. “Policies that raise the minimum wage have been a lifeline for low-wage workers, who have been hardest hit by the growing affordability crisis,” wrote Yannet Lathrop, senior researcher and policy analyst at NELP, in the report.
Including California, Oregon, and Washington, along with Arkansas, Nebraska, and South Dakota
In total, 88 jurisdictions—22 states and 66 cities and counties—will raise their minimum wages sometime in 2026, according to the report. Thirty states, in addition to Washington, D.C., have minimum wages higher than the federal level, including California, Oregon, and Washington, along with Arkansas, Nebraska, and South Dakota. The federal minimum wage has remained at $7.25 per hour since 2009.
Rhode Island will also increase its minimum wage to $16 per hour
As for the states, in Arizona, for example, the minimum wage is $15.15 per hour, with variations in cities like Flagstaff. Other states that will raise their minimum wage in 2026 include California, with $16.90; Colorado, Connecticut, Hawaii, Maine, and Michigan, with $13.73 per hour; Minnesota, Missouri, and Montana, with $10.85 per hour; Nebraska, with exactly $15 per hour; Ohio, South Dakota, Vermont, and New Jersey, with $15.92 per hour in companies with six or more employees; $15.23 in small companies; $14.20 in the agricultural sector; and $18.92 in direct care at long-term care facilities. Rhode Island will also increase its minimum wage to $16 per hour; Virginia will have $13.50 per hour; and Washington will have $17.29 per hour. New York, Long Island, and Westchester will charge $17 per hour, and $16 for the rest of the state.
It is therefore important for each resident to consult their state’s regulations and decide how to manage their work schedule. These figures can be confirmed and verified on official government websites to avoid any misunderstandings. It’s worth noting that, according to official data from the Department of Labor, twenty states continue to apply the national minimum wage, while others have raised it to protect the purchasing power of lower-paid employees and, consequently, continue supporting the country’s circular economy.