Minimum Wage 2027 by State: New Hourly Rates

Quick answer: At least seven states have confirmed new minimum wage rates for January 1, 2027: Washington $17.73, Connecticut $17.48, California $17.40, Michigan $15.00, Virginia $13.75, Minnesota $11.87 and Ohio $11.40 per hour. The federal minimum stays at $7.25, so workers receive whichever rate is higher, including any higher city or county rate.

Key takeaways

Washington will have the highest rate on this list at $17.73 an hour from January 1, 2027, up 60 cents from $17.13.
Michigan gets the biggest jump of the seven states, rising $1.27 to $15.00 under Senate Bill 8.
Virginia moves to $13.75 in 2027 on the way to $15.00 on January 1, 2028, under bills signed in April 2026.
Ohio's tipped minimum rises to $5.70, but the state rate only covers businesses with more than $420,000 in annual gross receipts.
The federal minimum wage remains $7.25, unchanged since 2009, so state and local rates set the real floor for most workers in these states.

If you earn an hourly wage, January 1, 2027 is a date worth circling. Our tracker of the minimum wage 2027 by state pulls together the new rates that a state agency, governor's office or signed law has confirmed as of October 3, 2026, so you can see what your paycheck floor will be before the new year starts. We will keep adding states as their labor departments publish official figures.

Seven states are on our confirmed list so far: Washington, Connecticut, California, Michigan, Virginia, Minnesota and Ohio. Most of these raises happen automatically because the state ties its wage floor to inflation. Two of them, Michigan and Virginia, come from laws that set fixed step-ups.

What is the minimum wage 2027 by state?

The confirmed 2027 rates range from $11.40 an hour in Ohio to $17.73 an hour in Washington, and every one takes effect on January 1, 2027. The list below compares the current 2026 rate with the new one.

Washington: $17.13 now, $17.73 from January 1, 2027 (+$0.60 an hour; inflation adjustment using CPI-W)
Connecticut: $16.94 now, $17.48 from January 1, 2027 (+$0.54 an hour; announced by Gov. Ned Lamont)
California: $16.90 now, $17.40 from January 1, 2027 (+$0.50 an hour; inflation adjustment using CPI-W)
Michigan: $13.73 now, $15.00 from January 1, 2027 (+$1.27 an hour; fixed schedule in Senate Bill 8)
Virginia: $12.77 now, $13.75 from January 1, 2027 (+$0.98 an hour; fixed schedule in HB1 and SB1)
Minnesota: $11.41 now, $11.87 from January 1, 2027 (+$0.46 an hour; inflation adjustment)
Ohio: $11.00 now, $11.40 from January 1, 2027 (+$0.40 an hour; inflation adjustment under the state constitution)

Keep in mind that the federal minimum wage is still $7.25 an hour, the level it has held since 2009. When a state rate is higher, employers in that state must pay the state rate. Many cities and counties go further still, so the number that applies to you can be higher than the figure in this table.

How much will a full-time minimum wage job pay in 2027?

A full-time worker on the new minimum earns roughly $23,700 a year in Ohio and about $36,900 a year in Washington before taxes. These figures assume 40 hours a week for 52 weeks (2,080 hours), with no overtime, tips or unpaid time off.

Washington: $17.73 an hour, about $36,878 a year
Connecticut: $17.48 an hour, about $36,358 a year
California: $17.40 an hour, about $36,192 a year
Michigan: $15.00 an hour, about $31,200 a year
Virginia: $13.75 an hour, about $28,600 a year
Minnesota: $11.87 an hour, about $24,690 a year
Ohio: $11.40 an hour, about $23,712 a year

For comparison, the same 2,080 hours at the federal $7.25 rate comes to $15,080. That gap is why job seekers who can choose between nearby states often look closely at where an employer is located.

Which states have the biggest minimum wage increases in 2027?

Michigan has the largest raise on the list at $1.27 an hour, followed by Virginia at 98 cents. Both increases come from laws passed by state lawmakers rather than from an inflation formula.

Michigan: $15.00 an hour

The Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity says Senate Bill 8 raises the wage in steps until it reaches $15 per hour in 2027. The state rate moved to $13.73 on January 1, 2026 and becomes $15.00 on January 1, 2027.

Virginia: $13.75 an hour, then $15.00 in 2028

Governor Abigail Spanberger signed HB1 and SB1 on April 9, 2026. The laws lock in the current $12.77 rate, lift it to $13.75 on January 1, 2027 and to $15.00 on January 1, 2028. She also signed HB20 and SB121, which bring Virginia farm workers under the state minimum wage.

Which states raise the minimum wage automatically for inflation?

Washington, California, Minnesota and Ohio adjust their rates each year using a consumer price index, so the raise depends on how fast prices rose. Connecticut's new rate was announced by Governor Ned Lamont in August 2026.

Washington: $17.73 an hour

The Washington State Department of Labor and Industries (L&I) uses the federal Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) and announces the new figure on September 30 each year. Employers may pay 14- and 15-year-olds no less than 85% of the adult rate, and some local jurisdictions in Washington set higher minimums.

California: $17.40 an hour

The California Department of Finance certified the 2027 rate on July 31, 2026. California's law caps any single yearly raise at 3.5% and never lets the rate fall. The change also lifts the salary test for overtime-exempt staff: from January 1, 2027, exempt employees must earn at least $72,384 a year, according to the state Labor Commissioner's Office.

Connecticut: $17.48 an hour

Connecticut's rate climbs from $16.94 to $17.48 on New Year's Day. Lamont said the goal is to help full-time workers keep up with the cost of living.

Minnesota: $11.87 an hour

The Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry set a 3.99% increase, taking the rate to $11.87 for all employers. The 90-day training wage for workers under 20 rises to $9.68. Minneapolis and St. Paul require higher pay for work done inside those cities.

Ohio: $11.40 an hour

Ohio's Bureau of Wage and Hour Administration set an increase of about 3.5%, WHIO reported on September 30, 2026. The minimum for tipped employees rises to $5.70 an hour, up from $5.50. The state rate applies to businesses with more than $420,000 in annual gross receipts, up from $405,000. Staff at smaller businesses, and 14- and 15-year-olds, are covered by the $7.25 federal rate instead.

Do local minimum wages override the state rate?

Yes. When a city or county sets a higher minimum, employers there must pay the higher local rate. California, Washington and Minnesota all point workers to local ordinances, so check your city's rate before you assume the state figure is your floor.

What this means for you

If you are paid at or near the minimum today, your hourly rate should rise automatically on your first shift in 2027. You do not need to apply for it. A few practical steps help you confirm you are paid correctly:

Check your first January pay stub. California requires employers to list wage rates on pay stubs. Compare the hourly figure with the table above or your local rate.
Look for the new workplace poster. Employers in California and Minnesota must display the updated minimum wage notice where staff can see it.
Ask about notice of the change. In Minnesota, employers must give written notice of any pay change before it takes effect.
Raise problems early. If the new rate is missing, ask your employer first. If it is not fixed, you can file a wage claim or complaint with your state labor agency, such as the California Labor Commissioner's Office or Washington L&I.
Use the raise in job talks. If you are job hunting, an offer near the old minimum may be below the legal rate from January. Ask employers what the starting pay will be in 2027.

Common mistakes to avoid

Assuming the federal $7.25 rate applies when your state or city sets a higher one.
Forgetting that tipped employees in Ohio have a separate minimum of $5.70 an hour in 2027.
Overlooking small-business rules: in Ohio, the state rate only covers businesses above $420,000 in annual gross receipts.
Treating a 2026 job ad as a guide to 2027 pay without checking the new rate.

Last updated: October 3, 2026. This list covers rates confirmed by official sources as of that date. Other states that adjust their wage floor each year may publish 2027 figures later in the fall, and we will add them once their labor departments announce them.

Frequently asked questions

What state will have the highest minimum wage in 2027?

Of the states that have confirmed their 2027 rates so far, Washington is highest at $17.73 an hour from January 1, 2027. Connecticut follows at $17.48 and California at $17.40. Some cities in these states set even higher local minimums.

What will California's minimum wage be in 2027?

California's statewide minimum wage will be $17.40 an hour starting January 1, 2027, up from $16.90 in 2026. The Department of Finance certified the increase on July 31, 2026. Some cities and counties, and certain industries, require higher pay.

Is Michigan's minimum wage going up to $15 in 2027?

Yes. Michigan's minimum wage rises from $13.73 to $15.00 an hour on January 1, 2027. The increase comes from Senate Bill 8, which raised the rate in steps.

What is Ohio's minimum wage for 2027?

Ohio's minimum wage will be $11.40 an hour for non-tipped workers and $5.70 an hour for tipped workers from January 1, 2027. It applies to businesses with more than $420,000 in annual gross receipts; smaller businesses and 14- and 15-year-olds follow the $7.25 federal rate.

Is the federal minimum wage going up in 2027?

No federal increase has been set. The federal minimum wage is still $7.25 an hour, where it has stood since 2009. Workers in states with higher minimums receive the state rate.

Do I need to do anything to get the new minimum wage?

No. The new rate applies automatically from January 1, 2027, and your employer must pay it. Check your first pay stub of the year and contact your state labor department if your pay does not change.

Sources

This article was compiled by Jobsiz from the official and news sources listed above, with AI-assisted writing and automated fact-checking. Rates can change; always confirm with your state labor department.

Minimum Wage 2027 by State: New Rates Confirmed So Far