50-State Minimum Wage & Salary Calculator
Calculate full-time and part-time annual earnings under 2025/2026 state wage laws, compare tipped employee rules, and measure living wage coverage.
1. Select State & Hourly Rate
2025/2026 Legal Rates2. Work Schedule & Hours
Living Wage & Rent Coverage
78% of Living WageTop State Minimum Wages (2025/2026)
Hourly| Jurisdiction | Regular | Tipped | Annual Full-Time |
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State vs. Federal Minimum Wage: Rights, Rules, and Tip Credits
Under the United States Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), when both state and federal minimum wage laws apply, the employee is always entitled to the higher of the two wage standards. While the federal rate remains anchored at \$7.25 per hour, over 30 states and more than 60 municipalities mandate significantly higher minimums—many indexed automatically to the Consumer Price Index (CPI-U) to prevent inflation from eroding purchasing power.
No Tip Credit States
California, Washington, Oregon, Nevada, Minnesota, Montana, and Alaska guarantee tipped staff the full minimum wage on top of 100% of tips received.
CPI Cost-of-Living Indexing
States like WA, CA, CO, AZ, and NY automatically adjust minimum wage every January based on regional BLS inflation statistics.
Federal Baseline ($7.25)
20 states (predominantly in the South and Midwest) default directly to the federal \$7.25 floor without state-level premiums.
How the Tipped Wage Credit Works
In states that allow tip credits, employers can pay a direct wage as low as \$2.13 per hour, claiming up to a \$5.12 credit toward the federal \$7.25 minimum wage. However, under federal law, if an employee's tips combined with their direct cash wage do not equal at least the regular minimum wage per hour across the workweek, the employer is legally required to make up the difference in cash.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which US state has the highest minimum wage? ▼
Washington D.C. leads the nation at $17.50 per hour. Among US states, Washington state ranks highest at $16.66 per hour, closely followed by California ($16.00/hr, with $20.00/hr for fast-food workers under AB 1228), Connecticut ($16.35/hr), and New York ($16.00/hr in NYC/Long Island).
Can a city have a higher minimum wage than the state? ▼
Yes. Unless preempted by state law, local municipalities frequently mandate higher local minimum wages. For example, Tukwila and Seattle in Washington require over $19.97 to $20.29 per hour, and West Hollywood in California requires $19.08 per hour.
Does minimum wage pay overtime for hours over 40? ▼
Yes. Under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), all non-exempt minimum wage hourly employees are entitled to overtime pay at 1.5 times their regular hourly rate for all hours worked in excess of 40 in a single workweek. In California, overtime also applies to hours worked over 8 in a single day.