Pay & careers statistics
Minimum Wage Statistics 2026
This page brings together current figures on minimum wages: the US federal rate and who earns it, state and city rates for 2026 and 2027, the UK National Living Wage, minimum wages across the European Union, and rates in Canada, Australia and New Zealand. Each figure links to the government agency, statistical office or international body that published it. Most figures describe 2025 and 2026; the latest detailed BLS profile of US minimum wage workers covers 2024.
By the Mojolin research desk · Updated November 6, 2026 · Next review by December 21, 2026
- Figures
- 48
- Primary sources
- 17
- Official or research
- 90%
- Charts
- 4
Key takeaways
- $7.25The federal minimum wage for covered nonexempt US workers is $7.25 an hour, the rate in force since July 24, 2009.U.S. Department of Labor
- 1.0%1.0% of hourly paid US workers earned the federal minimum wage or less in 2024, little changed from 2023.U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
- 43%Workers under age 25 were about one fifth of US hourly paid workers in 2024 but 43% of those paid the federal minimum or less.U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
- $18.40The District of Columbia had the highest basic minimum wage of any US state or district listed by the Labor Department in November 2026, at $18.40 an hour.U.S. Department of Labor
- $17.73Washington's minimum wage will rise 3.5% to $17.73 an hour on January 1, 2027, under its inflation indexing law.Washington State Department of Labor & Industries
- £12.71The UK National Living Wage for workers aged 21 and over rose 4.1% to £12.71 an hour on April 1, 2026.Low Pay Commission
- €620 to €2,771On July 1, 2026, monthly minimum wages in the EU ranged from €620 in Bulgaria to €2,771 in Luxembourg.Eurostat
- $18.15Canada's federal minimum wage rose to C$18.15 an hour on April 1, 2026, for workers in federally regulated private sectors.Employment and Social Development Canada
Research overview
What the numbers say
The US federal minimum wage has stood at $7.25 since July 2009, according to the Department of Labor, and it now binds mainly in the states that have no higher rate of their own. The Bureau of Labor Statistics counted about 843,000 hourly workers at or below $7.25 in 2024, or 1.0% of everyone paid by the hour, down from 13.4% in 1979. That fall reflects state and city laws more than rising pay at the bottom: 30 states and DC had higher minimums in 2024, and the UC Berkeley Labor Center counts 67 cities and counties with their own ordinances.
Those at or below the federal floor are mostly young, part-time and working in food service. BLS data show workers under 25 make up 43% of the group, part-time workers are four times as likely as full-time workers to be paid at that level, and 5.6% of hourly workers in leisure and hospitality earn $7.25 or less, many of them tipped workers whose employers can pay a cash wage of $2.13 under federal law.
State rates now range from $18.40 in the District of Columbia to $7.25 across much of the South, per the Labor Department. Inflation indexing drives many of the annual changes: Washington's rate rises 3.5% to $17.73 in January 2027, California adjusts by up to 3.5% a year from $16.90, and Florida reached $15 in 2026 with indexing due from 2028.
Outside the US, minimum wages are mostly set by formula or by independent commissions. The UK Low Pay Commission recommended the 4.1% rise to £12.71 for April 2026 and reports that the real value of the adult rate is up more than 75% since 2009. Eurostat finds EU rates from €620 to €2,771 a month, with a much smaller gap after adjusting for prices, while Canada, Australia and New Zealand raise their rates each year through inflation indexing or annual reviews. The ILO's review of 160 countries shows that most raised minimum wages during the 2022 inflation spike but few kept pace with prices.
01
The federal minimum wage and how many workers earn it
- 1$7.25$7.25
The federal minimum wage for covered nonexempt US workers is $7.25 an hour, the rate in force since July 24, 2009.
OfficialU.S. Department of LaborMinimum Wage, Wage and Hour DivisionNov 2026
- 2$2.13$2.13
Employers can pay tipped US workers a cash wage of $2.13 an hour under federal law, provided tips bring total pay up to the minimum wage.
OfficialU.S. Department of LaborMinimum Wages for Tipped EmployeesNov 2026
- 380.3 million80.3 million
80.3 million US workers age 16 and older were paid by the hour in 2024, or 55.6% of all wage and salary workers.
OfficialU.S. Bureau of Labor StatisticsCharacteristics of minimum wage workers, 2024Jun 2025
- 4760,000760,000
760,000 hourly paid US workers reported wages below the federal minimum in 2024, on top of 82,000 paid exactly $7.25.
OfficialU.S. Bureau of Labor StatisticsCharacteristics of minimum wage workers, 2024Jun 2025
- 51.0%1.0%
1.0% of hourly paid US workers earned the federal minimum wage or less in 2024, little changed from 2023.
OfficialU.S. Bureau of Labor StatisticsCharacteristics of minimum wage workers, 2024Jun 2025
- 613.4%13.4%
In 1979, the first year of regular data, 13.4% of hourly paid US workers earned the federal minimum or less.
OfficialU.S. Bureau of Labor StatisticsCharacteristics of minimum wage workers, 2024Jun 2025
- 730 states30 states
As of 2024, 30 states and the District of Columbia had minimum wages above the federal $7.25.
OfficialU.S. Bureau of Labor StatisticsCharacteristics of minimum wage workers, 2024Jun 2025
What these figures suggest
The federal floor of $7.25 has not changed since July 2009, the longest stretch without a raise since the law took effect in 1938. Because 30 states and DC set higher rates, very few hourly workers are paid at or below $7.25: about 1 percent in 2024, compared with 13.4 percent in 1979. The BLS count is narrow by design. It uses the federal rate only and excludes tips, so it misses the far larger group paid exactly their state or city minimum.
02
Who earns the minimum wage in the US
Chart
Share of US hourly workers paid at or below the federal minimum, by age, 2024
Percent of wage and salary workers paid hourly rates with earnings at or below $7.25, 2024 annual averages, Table 1.
Source U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Characteristics of minimum wage workers, 2024
View data table
| Category | Value |
|---|---|
| Ages 16 to 19 | 2.6% |
| Ages 16 to 24 | 2.3% |
| All ages 16+ | 1% |
| Ages 25 and older | 0.7% |
- 843%43%
Workers under age 25 were about one fifth of US hourly paid workers in 2024 but 43% of those paid the federal minimum or less.
OfficialU.S. Bureau of Labor StatisticsCharacteristics of minimum wage workers, 2024Jun 2025
- 92.6%2.6%
2.6% of employed US teenagers paid by the hour earned the federal minimum or less in 2024, nearly four times the 0.7% rate for workers 25 and older.
OfficialU.S. Bureau of Labor StatisticsCharacteristics of minimum wage workers, 2024Jun 2025
- 101.3%1.3%
1.3% of US women paid hourly rates earned at or below the federal minimum in 2024, compared with 0.8% of men.
OfficialU.S. Bureau of Labor StatisticsCharacteristics of minimum wage workers, 2024Jun 2025
- 112.4%2.4%
2.4% of US part-time hourly workers were paid the federal minimum or less in 2024, four times the 0.6% rate for full-time workers.
OfficialU.S. Bureau of Labor StatisticsCharacteristics of minimum wage workers, 2024Jun 2025
- 123.2%3.2%
Service occupations had the highest share of US hourly workers at or below the federal minimum in 2024, at 3.2%.
OfficialU.S. Bureau of Labor StatisticsCharacteristics of minimum wage workers, 2024Jun 2025
- 135.6%5.6%
5.6% of US hourly workers in leisure and hospitality earned the federal minimum or less in 2024, the highest of any industry.
OfficialU.S. Bureau of Labor StatisticsCharacteristics of minimum wage workers, 2024Jun 2025
What these figures suggest
Workers at or below the federal minimum are young, part-time and concentrated in restaurants. Workers under 25 make up one fifth of hourly workers but 43% of those at or below $7.25, and part-time workers are four times as likely as full-time workers to be in the group. Many of these jobs are tipped, so reported hourly wages can understate total pay. Women are somewhat more likely than men to be paid at the floor.
03
State and local minimum wages in 2026 and 2027
- 14$18.40$18.40
The District of Columbia had the highest basic minimum wage of any US state or district listed by the Labor Department in November 2026, at $18.40 an hour.
OfficialU.S. Department of LaborState Minimum Wage LawsNov 2026
- 15$17.13$17.13
Washington's statewide minimum wage was $17.13 an hour in 2026, and cities such as Seattle and SeaTac set higher local rates.
OfficialWashington State Department of Labor & IndustriesWashington's minimum wage rises to $17.73 an hour in 2027Sep 2026
- 16$17.73$17.73
Washington's minimum wage will rise 3.5% to $17.73 an hour on January 1, 2027, under its inflation indexing law.
OfficialWashington State Department of Labor & IndustriesWashington's minimum wage rises to $17.73 an hour in 2027Sep 2026
- 17$16.90$16.90
California's statewide minimum wage has been $16.90 an hour for all employers since January 1, 2026, with higher rates for fast food, some health care jobs and many cities.
OfficialCalifornia Department of Industrial RelationsMinimum Wage Frequently Asked QuestionsJan 2026
- 183.5%3.5%
California caps annual inflation adjustments to its minimum wage at 3.5% and does not allow the rate to fall.
OfficialCalifornia Department of Industrial RelationsMinimum Wage Frequently Asked QuestionsJan 2026
- 19$17.00$17.00
New York's minimum wage in 2026 is $17.00 an hour in New York City, Nassau, Suffolk and Westchester, and $16.00 in the rest of the state.
OfficialU.S. Department of LaborState Minimum Wage LawsNov 2026
- 20$16.94$16.94
Connecticut's basic minimum wage is $16.94 an hour in 2026.
OfficialU.S. Department of LaborState Minimum Wage LawsNov 2026
- 21$15.00$15.00
Florida's minimum wage reached $15.00 an hour in 2026 and will be indexed to inflation from January 1, 2028.
OfficialU.S. Department of LaborState Minimum Wage LawsNov 2026
- 22$5.15$5.15
Georgia's state minimum wage law still lists $5.15 an hour, though employers covered by federal law must pay at least $7.25.
OfficialU.S. Department of LaborState Minimum Wage LawsNov 2026
- 236767
67 US cities and counties had their own minimum wage laws as of the latest UC Berkeley Labor Center inventory, up from five before 2012.
ResearchUC Berkeley Labor CenterInventory of US City and County Minimum Wage OrdinancesJan 2026
What these figures suggest
State rates now set the effective floor for most US workers, and the spread is wide: $18.40 in the District of Columbia against $7.25 in states that defer to federal law, with Georgia and Wyoming still listing $5.15 for workers outside federal coverage. Several states index their rates to inflation, so increases arrive each January without new legislation, as in Washington and California. Cities add a further layer, and the number of local minimum wage ordinances has grown from five before 2012 to 67.
04
UK National Living Wage and youth rates
Chart
UK minimum wage increases by rate, April 2026
Annual percentage increase in each UK minimum wage rate, effective April 1, 2026.
Source Low Pay Commission, The National Minimum Wage in 2026
View data table
| Category | Value |
|---|---|
| National Living Wage (21+) | 4.1% |
| 18 to 20 | 8.5% |
| 16 to 17 | 6% |
| Apprentice | 6% |
- 24£12.71£12.71
The UK National Living Wage for workers aged 21 and over rose 4.1% to £12.71 an hour on April 1, 2026.
OfficialLow Pay CommissionThe National Minimum Wage in 2026Apr 2026
- 25£10.85£10.85
The UK rate for workers aged 18 to 20 rose 8.5% to £10.85 an hour in April 2026.
OfficialLow Pay CommissionThe National Minimum Wage in 2026Apr 2026
- 2685%85%
The UK youth rate for 18 to 20 year olds is now 85% of the adult National Living Wage.
OfficialLow Pay CommissionThe National Minimum Wage in 2026Apr 2026
- 2775%75%
The real value of the UK National Living Wage has increased by more than 75% since 2009.
OfficialLow Pay CommissionThe National Minimum Wage in 2026Apr 2026
- 283.3%3.3%
A full-time UK worker on the National Living Wage working 35 hours a week gets a 3.3% rise in weekly take-home pay from the April 2026 increase, or £11.90.
OfficialLow Pay CommissionThe National Minimum Wage in 2026Apr 2026
- 291.70 million1.70 million
UK jobs paid at the National Living Wage are projected to fall from 1.76 million in April 2025 to 1.70 million in April 2026.
OfficialLow Pay CommissionThe National Minimum Wage in 2026Apr 2026
- 30£13.18£13.18
The Low Pay Commission projects two-thirds of UK median earnings for workers 21 and over at a central estimate of £13.18 by October 2027, the reference point for the 2027 rate.
OfficialLow Pay CommissionThe National Minimum Wage in 2026Apr 2026
- 31346,000346,000
About 346,000 UK employee jobs, or 1.1%, were paid below the applicable minimum wage in April 2026, according to ONS estimates.
OfficialOffice for National StatisticsLow and high pay in the UK: 2026Oct 2026
- 322.8%2.8%
2.8% of UK employee jobs were low paid in April 2026, meaning below two-thirds of median hourly pay, up slightly after years of decline.
OfficialOffice for National StatisticsLow and high pay in the UK: 2026Oct 2026
What these figures suggest
The UK sets one national rate a year on advice from the Low Pay Commission, with a target of two-thirds of median hourly pay. The April 2026 rise of 4.1% to £12.71 was expected to beat inflation, and the youth rates rose faster as the government narrows the gap with the adult rate. The real value of the adult rate has grown more than 75% since 2009. ONS data show that only about 1% of jobs were paid below the legal minimum in April 2026, an estimate rather than a count of employer breaches.
05
Minimum wages in the European Union
Chart
Average annual minimum wage growth, July 2016 to July 2026, fastest EU countries
Average annual growth in national monthly minimum wages, nominal, July 2016 to July 2026.
Source Eurostat, Minimum wage statistics
View data table
| Category | Value |
|---|---|
| Lithuania | 11.7% |
| Romania | 11.6% |
| Bulgaria | 11.2% |
| Poland | 10.4% |
| Hungary | 10% |
Chart
Share of employees paid less than 105% of the minimum wage, EU countries above 10%, 2022
Employees aged 22 and over in firms with 10 or more employees, Structure of Earnings Survey 2022.
Source Eurostat, Minimum wage statistics
View data table
| Category | Value |
|---|---|
| Bulgaria | 13% |
| France | 12.7% |
| Slovenia | 12.6% |
| Romania | 10.5% |
| Greece | 10.2% |
| Poland | 10.1% |
| Hungary | 10% |
- 33€620 to €2,771€620 to €2,771
On July 1, 2026, monthly minimum wages in the EU ranged from €620 in Bulgaria to €2,771 in Luxembourg.
OfficialEurostatMinimum wage statisticsJul 2026
- 3422 of 2722 of 27
22 of the 27 EU countries had a national minimum wage on July 1, 2026; Denmark, Italy, Austria, Finland and Sweden did not.
OfficialEurostatMinimum wage statisticsJul 2026
- 35935 to 2,164 PPS935 to 2,164 PPS
Adjusted for price levels, EU minimum wages in July 2026 ranged from 935 purchasing power standards in Estonia to 2,164 in Germany.
OfficialEurostatMinimum wage statisticsJul 2026
- 3611.7%11.7%
Lithuania had the fastest growth in its minimum wage between July 2016 and July 2026, averaging 11.7% a year.
OfficialEurostatMinimum wage statisticsJul 2026
- 3769%69%
In 2024, EU minimum wages ranged from 44% of median gross earnings in Estonia to 69% in Portugal.
OfficialEurostatMinimum wage statisticsJul 2026
- 3813.0%13.0%
In Bulgaria, 13.0% of employees were paid less than 105% of the national minimum wage in 2022, the highest share in the EU.
OfficialEurostatMinimum wage statisticsJul 2026
- 39€13.90€13.90
Germany's statutory minimum wage was €13.90 an hour in 2026, equal to €2,343 a month gross for a full-time job, the third highest in the EU.
OfficialFederal Statistical Office of Germany (Destatis)Germany has third-highest minimum wage in the EUSep 2026
- 403.8%3.8%
3.8% of jobs in Germany were paid the then minimum wage of €12.82 an hour in April 2025.
OfficialFederal Statistical Office of Germany (Destatis)Minimum wages2026
- 41€14.15€14.15
Ireland's national minimum wage for adult workers rose to €14.15 an hour on January 1, 2026.
IndustryGovernment of Ireland, Irish Statute BookS.I. No. 472/2025, National Minimum Wage Order 2025Oct 2025
What these figures suggest
Monthly minimum wages in the EU differ by a factor of about 4.5 in euros, but only about 2.3 once price levels are taken into account, so the gap in buying power is much smaller than the headline figures suggest. Central and Eastern European states have raised their rates fastest over the past decade, at 10% to 12% a year. Five EU countries, including Italy and the Nordic states, have no statutory national minimum and rely on collective agreements. Measured against median pay, minimum wages range from 44% to 69%.
06
Minimum wages worldwide: Canada, Australia, New Zealand and global trends
- 42$18.15$18.15
Canada's federal minimum wage rose to C$18.15 an hour on April 1, 2026, for workers in federally regulated private sectors.
IndustryEmployment and Social Development CanadaGovernment of Canada raises the federal minimum wageMar 2026
- 4321%21%
Canada's federal minimum wage has risen a cumulative 21% since it was introduced as a standalone rate in 2021.
IndustryEmployment and Social Development CanadaGovernment of Canada raises the federal minimum wageMar 2026
- 44$26.44$26.44
Australia's National Minimum Wage has been A$26.44 an hour, or A$1,004.90 a week before tax, since July 1, 2026.
OfficialFair Work OmbudsmanMinimum wages fact sheetJul 2026
- 45$23.95$23.95
New Zealand's adult minimum wage rose from NZ$23.50 to NZ$23.95 an hour on April 1, 2026.
IndustryEmployment New ZealandMinimum wage is increasing on 1 April 2026Mar 2026
- 46$19.16$19.16
New Zealand's starting-out and training minimum wage rose to NZ$19.16 an hour on April 1, 2026.
IndustryEmployment New ZealandMinimum wage is increasing on 1 April 2026Mar 2026
- 4760%60%
Close to 60% of 160 countries studied by the ILO adjusted their minimum wage in 2022, but only one in four of those raises increased its real value.
OfficialInternational Labour OrganizationGlobal Wage Report 2024-25: Executive summaryNov 2024
- 4855%55%
Minimum wages rose in real terms in 55% of the 160 countries in the ILO sample in 2023.
OfficialInternational Labour OrganizationGlobal Wage Report 2024-25: Executive summaryNov 2024
What these figures suggest
Other advanced economies have moved their minimum wages well above the US federal floor, mostly through automatic inflation indexing or annual independent reviews. Canada's federal rate has risen 21% since 2021, and Australia's national minimum rose almost 6% in July 2026. Across a sample of 160 countries, the ILO found that most governments adjusted minimum wages during the 2022 inflation spike but that few raises kept up with prices, and real gains in 2023 often did not make up the earlier losses.
About these figures
Figures come from national labor ministries and statistical offices, independent wage commissions, Eurostat, the ILO and a university research center, and every quote was checked against the publisher's page. The BLS count of minimum wage workers uses the federal $7.25 rate only and is based on self-reported hourly wages that exclude tips, overtime and commissions, so it does not capture workers paid their higher state or local minimum. State rates come from the Department of Labor's November 2026 table and do not show every local or industry rate. International figures are in local currency and are not adjusted for exchange rates unless stated; Eurostat's purchasing power figures are the better guide to cross-country comparison. The Economic Policy Institute and OECD also publish minimum wage research, but their pages could not be re-checked automatically, so they are not cited here.
Every figure was taken from the publisher's own page, together with the sentence it appears in, and that sentence is re-checked against the source before each update. Where a survey covers a specific group, the figure says so. Read the methodology. Spotted a problem? Email editorial@mojolin.com.
Frequently asked questions
+What is the federal minimum wage in 2026?
The federal minimum wage is $7.25 an hour, unchanged since July 24, 2009, according to the US Department of Labor. Tipped workers can be paid a cash wage of $2.13 an hour under federal law if tips make up the difference. Most states and DC set higher rates.
+How many Americans earn the minimum wage?
The Bureau of Labor Statistics counted 82,000 hourly workers paid exactly $7.25 and 760,000 paid less in 2024, together 1.0% of the 80.3 million workers paid by the hour. The count does not include the much larger number of workers paid their state or local minimum.
+Which state has the highest minimum wage?
The District of Columbia has the highest rate at $18.40 an hour, according to the Department of Labor's November 2026 table. Among states, Washington is highest at $17.13 in 2026, rising to $17.73 on January 1, 2027, followed by New York City and nearby counties at $17.00 and Connecticut at $16.94.
+What is the UK minimum wage in 2026?
The National Living Wage for workers aged 21 and over is £12.71 an hour from April 1, 2026, up 4.1%, according to the Low Pay Commission. Workers aged 18 to 20 get at least £10.85, and those aged 16 to 17 and apprentices get £8.00.
+Which EU country has the highest minimum wage?
Luxembourg had the highest monthly minimum wage in the EU on July 1, 2026, at €2,771, and Bulgaria the lowest at €620, according to Eurostat. Adjusted for price levels, Germany ranked highest. Five EU countries, including Italy, Austria and the Nordic states, have no national minimum wage.
Sources
17 primary sources, by publisher
- 01Official California Department of Industrial Relations. Minimum Wage Frequently Asked Questions (Jan 2026)
- 02Industry Employment and Social Development Canada. Government of Canada raises the federal minimum wage (Mar 2026)
- 03Industry Employment New Zealand. Minimum wage is increasing on 1 April 2026 (Mar 2026)
- 04Official Eurostat. Minimum wage statistics (Jul 2026)
- 05Official Fair Work Ombudsman. Minimum wages fact sheet (Jul 2026)
- 06Official Federal Statistical Office of Germany (Destatis). Germany has third-highest minimum wage in the EU (Sep 2026)
- 07Official Federal Statistical Office of Germany (Destatis). Minimum wages (2026)
- 08Industry Government of Ireland, Irish Statute Book. S.I. No. 472/2025, National Minimum Wage Order 2025 (Oct 2025)
- 09Official International Labour Organization. Global Wage Report 2024-25: Executive summary (Nov 2024)
- 10Official Low Pay Commission. The National Minimum Wage in 2026 (Apr 2026)
- 11Official Office for National Statistics. Low and high pay in the UK: 2026 (Oct 2026)
- 12Official U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Characteristics of minimum wage workers, 2024 (Jun 2025)
- 13Official U.S. Department of Labor. Minimum Wage, Wage and Hour Division (Nov 2026)
- 14Official U.S. Department of Labor. Minimum Wages for Tipped Employees (Nov 2026)
- 15Official U.S. Department of Labor. State Minimum Wage Laws (Nov 2026)
- 16Research UC Berkeley Labor Center. Inventory of US City and County Minimum Wage Ordinances (Jan 2026)
- 17Official Washington State Department of Labor & Industries. Washington's minimum wage rises to $17.73 an hour in 2027 (Sep 2026)