The Federal minimum wage has remained at $7.25 per hour since 2009, but 24 states and many cities, counties and locals have set increases effective January 1st, 2026, and a few effective during 2026. The state with the highest minimum wage is D.C. (yes, I know D.C. is not a state, but in any payroll system, D.C. is selected in the state field) at $17.95 an hour, and a number of cities within Washington state are well above $20.00 per hour. Back in the “old days” of 2012, we heard of the “Fight for $15.00” movement, and looking at the…
