As the year comes to a close, states and cities are bracing for a new round of minimum wage hikes that will take effect in the New Year. More than 20 states and 80 cities and counties will increase their wage floors this year.
The sky is the limit on some state and local wage hikes, especially those that are set to increase every year based on inflation. Some states and cities have instituted separate wage rates for different industries, adding layers of complexity for local businesses and their employees. While most states still protect the tip credit system for servers and bartenders, many tipped wage mandates are also going up next year.
The Employment Policies Institute has compiled a full list of the scheduled wage hikes here.
Next year’s highest statewide minimum wages are found in Washington, Connecticut, and California. The nation’s capital’s minimum wage – set to increase based on inflation in July 2026 – is estimated to rise even higher.
Long Beach, CA’s minimum wage of $26.50 for hotel and concessions employees is the highest local mandate scheduled for 2026, followed closely by fellow California cities Oakland and Los Angeles, where hotel workers will also see some of the highest wages in the country.
Get the full list of scheduled minimum wage increases here.