By Andy Medici
The Business Journals, The Playbook, Dec 3, 2025. In multiple business journals across the U.S. including Kansas City Business Journal, Buffalo Business First, Washington Business Journal, Orlando Business Journal, Denver Business Journal, Pittsburgh Business Times, Atlanta Business Chronicle, Boston Business Journal, L.A. Business First, Phoenix Business Journal, Nashville Business Journal, Charlotte Business Journal, Houston Business Journal, Cleveland Business Journal, Milwaukee Business Journal, Birmingham Business Journal, Chicago Business Journal, Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal, many more
For a number of business owners, 2026 will bring with it minimum-wage increases.
A combination of existing legislation and new laws, along with automatic increases tied to inflation or other economic indicators, means that 19 states will see their minimum wage go up as of Jan. 1. Three other states plus the District of Columbia will see their minimum wage go up later in 2026, according to roundup of minimum-wage laws by advocacy group Business for a Fair Minimum Wage.
With the changes, 20 states plus Washington, D.C., will have a minimum wage of $15 per hour or higher next year. Washington state will have the highest minimum wage, at $17.13 per hour, as of Jan. 1.
Here's the rundown of where changes are happening (with changes effective Jan. 1 unless listed otherwise): ...
The minimum-wage increases are set to occur at a time when the overall job market softens and pay increases in general continue to drop. ...