As of January 1st 2026, nineteen states will welcome new minimum wages for (most) workers.  While the federal minimum wage remains at $7.25 per hour, the majority of workers in the United States fall under additional minimum wages supplied by their state, county or city.

2026 New State Minimum Wages:  

These are the new minimum wages that go into effect January 1st, 2026:   

 2026 New City Minimum Wages:  

In addition to new state minimum wage laws, these are new city and county minimum wages that go into effect January 1st, 2026:     

 Overtime and Minimum Wages  

Federal law requires hourly workers receive overtime pay of one and half times their hourly rate for hours worked over 40 hours per week.  As such, an employee earning the minimum federal wage of $7.25 per hour, who works 50 hours a week, should receive a wage of $10.88 per hour for hours worked over 40.  

State laws can make overtime more prevalent.  California requires time and a half overtime for hours over 8 per day for hourly workers, as well as double time for hours over 12.  A worker working four 13-hour shifts per week could receive 16 hours of time and a half pay, and 4 hours of double time pay, and only 32 hours of regular pay (8 hours of regular pay, 4 hours of overtime time and a half, 1 hour of double time, per shift). With the California minimum wage now at $16.50 per hour in 2025, California minimum pay during overtime is $24.75 and double time is $33 per hour.  

Remote and Hybrid Workers 

It is now common for some workers to work away from the office at their home or other location.  Where a worker is working when they work is the deciding factor in what wage they should be paid. If a worker resides in a city with a higher minimum wage than the office location, the worker is entitled to the higher minimum wage for all time worked at home in a remote or hybrid role. 

If a worker is home 3 days a week, working hourly, in West Hollywood, they would be entitled to a minimum wage of $20.25 per hour as of January 1st 2026 regardless of the location of their office. Employers should track the work location of employees in such remote and hybrid roles to properly account for minimum wages owed. 

Unpaid Minimum Wage Lawyers  

If you believe you are not being paid for all of the time you have worked, are not being paid the proper minimum wage, or are not being paid the overtime due to you, we invite you to schedule a consultation with an employment law attorney in our California, Texas, Illinois, or Washington D.C. offices. Schneider Wallace Cottrell Kim LLP is a national law firm that represents employees in a wide range of employment law cases, including class action lawsuits involving the failure to pay wages, overtime pay and commissions. Contact us at 1-800-689-0024.