What states are increasing minimum wage in 2023?

In 2023, more than two dozen states, including California, New York, Washington, Colorado, Illinois, Massachusetts, and New Jersey, raised their minimum wages, with increases occurring at different times throughout the year, often in mid-year adjustments (like July 1st) or tied to inflation, impacting workers across the country and pushing wages above the federal minimum of $7.25/hour.

In what states is the minimum wage going up?

Many states are raising their minimum wages in 2026, with hikes taking effect in January for states like California ($16.90), Washington ($17.13), New York ($16/$17), New Jersey ($15.92), Connecticut ($16.94), Arizona ($15.15), and Hawaii ($16), among others, while some like Florida, Alaska, and Oregon have increases scheduled for later in the year, reflecting ongoing adjustments for inflation. 

What 5 states have no state minimum wage?

Five states have not adopted a state minimum wage: Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina and Tennessee. Three states, Georgia, Oklahoma and Wyoming, have a minimum wage below $7.25 per hour. In all eight of these states, the federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour generally applies.

Where in the US is the minimum wage $20?

Certain areas of California and Washington offer a minimum wage of over $20 an hour. Minimum wages increased on July 1, 2025 across several U.S. states and cities. These increases vary by location and industry, with higher wages often limited to specific sectors like hospitality or healthcare.

What states will have a minimum wage increase in 2026?

New York, California, Maine, Michigan, Missouri and Ohio are among states boosting the lowest someone can be paid for an hourly wage. The biggest increase is in Hawaii, which is raising its minimum wage by $2 an hour. Florida, Alaska and Oregon will also raise their pay requirements later in 2026.

Nearly 20 states to increase minimum wage in 2026

Is $20 the new minimum wage?

On April 1, 2024, California implemented a $20 hourly wage floor for workers in large chains in fast-food restaurants and snack and non-alcoholic beverage bars. The new standard, which corresponds to 69 percent of the state's median full-time wage, surpasses all prior benchmarks in minimum wage policies and research.

Does Chick-fil-A pay $20 an hour?

Yes, many Chick-fil-A locations, especially in high-cost areas like California, pay around $20 an hour or more for team members, often starting at that rate due to local minimum wage laws and company standards, with some roles even exceeding that. While national averages vary, local data shows front-of-house and kitchen roles frequently hitting or surpassing the $20 mark, with shift leaders earning even more, though actual pay depends on location, experience, and specific store. 

Who pays the highest minimum wage in the US?

As of early 2026, Washington, D.C. has the highest minimum wage overall at $17.95/hour, while Washington State has the highest state-level minimum wage at $17.13/hour, with several states like Connecticut ($16.94) and California ($16.90) also above $16/hour, though some cities (like Tukwila, WA) exceed these rates. Many states increased wages on January 1, 2026, reflecting inflation adjustments. 

What is the lowest paying state?

The lowest paying states, based on minimum wage, are those that follow the federal rate of $7.25/hour, including Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Tennessee, Georgia, Oklahoma, and Wyoming, with Georgia and Wyoming having even lower state rates ($5.15) that default to the federal wage for most employers; however, in terms of overall income, Mississippi consistently ranks as having the lowest median household income. 

What is the 2026 minimum wage?

The National Daily Minimum Wage will also rise by 9%, moving from GH₵19.97 to GH₵21.77, effective January 1, 2026.

Is minimum wage enough to live on?

No, the federal minimum wage ($7.25/hour) is not enough to live on in the U.S. in 2025, as it falls below the poverty line and workers often need to work over 80 hours weekly just to afford housing, with even higher state minimums often insufficient in high-cost areas like California due to expensive living costs, making a true living wage closer to $20-$26+ depending on location and family needs. 

What state pays the best minimum wage?

The "best" minimum wage state depends on the year and specific location, but as of late 2025/early 2026, Washington State and Washington D.C. consistently lead, with Washington state often hitting the highest statewide rate (around $17.13 in 2026) and D.C. having the highest overall ($17.95 in mid-2025), while cities like Tukwila, WA, have even higher local rates. Other top contenders with high rates include California, New York, and Connecticut, many of which adjust annually for inflation.
 

What happens if employers don't pay minimum wage?

An employee may file a private suit for back pay and an equal amount as liquidated damages, plus attorney's fees and court costs. The Secretary of Labor may obtain an injunction to restrain any person from violating the FLSA, including the unlawful withholding of proper minimum wage and overtime pay.

Which state is paying the new minimum wage?

The states are: Lagos, Rivers, Bayelsa, Niger, Enugu, Akwa Ibom, Abia, Adamawa, Anambra, Jigawa, Gombe, Ogun, Kebbi, Ondo, Kogi among others. On July 29, 2024, President Bola Tinubu signed the N70,000 minimum wage bill into law after months of negotiations with labour unions.

What position gets paid the most at Chick-fil-A?

The average estimated annual salary, including base and bonus, at Chick-fil-A is $108,427, or $52 per hour, while the estimated median salary is $109,189, or $52 per hour. At Chick-fil-A, the highest paid job is a Director of Sales at $248,250 annually and the lowest is a CS Rep at $39,344 annually.

How much does Chick-fil-A pay 14 year olds?

We employ a very limited number of 14 & 15 year olds. Students seeking employment must have a work permit and be available to work a minimum of 9 hours per week. Part Time: Starting wage is $12 an hour.

What job is best for a 14-year-old?

The jobs that you are allowed to work at include the following:

• Most retail occupations, including cashiering, selling, price marking, packing and shelving;
• Intellectual or creative work such as computer programming, teaching, tutoring, singing, acting, or playing an instrument;

Is Walmart going to $18 an hour?

Starting in early March, store employees will make between $14 and $19 an hour. They currently earn between $12 and $18 an hour, according to Walmart spokeswoman Anne Hatfield.

What is the lowest paid position at Walmart?

Hourly pay at Walmart.com ranges from an average of $12.62 to $22.96 an hour. Walmart.com employees with the job title Maintenance Technician make the most with an average hourly rate of $23.78, while employees with the title Cashier make the least with an average hourly rate of $13.65.

What is the employee discount at Walmart?

Walmart offers its employees a 10% discount on most regularly priced items, including a recently expanded year-round grocery discount (dairy, meat, frozen, dry goods), fresh produce, and general merchandise like clothing, with the discount covering about 95% of items in-store and online after 90 days of employment. 

Is pizza considered fast food?

The filling often includes fish, seafood, chicken or cucumber. Pizza is a common fast food category in the United States, with nationwide chains including Papa John's, Domino's Pizza, Sbarro and Pizza Hut. It trails only the burger industry in supplying children's fast food calories.

Who gets the 3.75 wage increase?

The Fair Work Commission (FWC) has announced a 3.75 per cent increase to both the minimum and award wages, effective from July 1. This decision will raise the national minimum wage to $24.10 per hour, or $915.91 per week, based on a full-time, 38-hour working week.

What's the minimum wage at McDonald's?

Comparatively, legislation in California, that went into effect on April 1, bumped up the minimum wage for certain fast food restaurants from $16 to $20, which equates to an annual salary of $41,600.