19 States Raise Minimum Wages for 8.3 Million Workers

Millions of low-wage workers across 19 states began 2026 with higher minimum pay rates as scheduled increases took effect on January 1, providing an estimated $5 billion in additional annual earnings for more than 8.3 million people nationwide, according to the Economic Policy Institute.

The adjustments, which include inflation-based updates and legislated hikes, affect states from coast to coast, including Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Hawaii, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Vermont, Virginia and Washington. Hawaii saw the largest jump, raising its minimum wage from $14 to $16 per hour. Washington followed with an increase to $17.13 per hour, while Connecticut reached $16.94. Other notable changes included New York, where rates rose to $17 in New York City, Long Island and Westchester counties, and $16 elsewhere; Missouri and Nebraska both advancing to $15; and Michigan climbing from $12.48 to $13.73.

These state-level changes build on years of gradual progress, often driven by voter-approved measures or automatic cost-of-living adjustments tied to indexes like the consumer price...