Minimum Wage FAQ (2026)

$7.25 per hour. Unchanged since 24 July 2009. The longest gap between federal increases in FLSA history -- over 16 years. Many states and cities set higher floors; workers are entitled to whichever rate is highest.

From 1 April 2026: £12.71 for workers aged 21 and over (National Living Wage), £10.85 for ages 18 to 20, and £8.00 for ages 16 to 17 and apprentices. These rates apply across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Among the 50 states, Washington at $17.13. DC (not a state) is at $17.95, rising to $18.40 on 1 July 2026. At city level, Tukwila WA holds the US record at $21.65, followed by Burien WA at $21.63.

The federal floor of $7.25 applies in 21 states including Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Tennessee (no state law), plus Georgia and Wyoming (state rates of $5.15 but federal $7.25 applies to covered employers).

No. California's minimum wage for 2026 is $16.90 per hour (higher for fast food workers under AB1228). Workers always get the higher of federal, state, or city rate. A California employer cannot pay the federal $7.25.

Always the higher of the two. If you work in Seattle (city $21.30) and Washington state is $17.13, you get Seattle's $21.30. If your state rate is higher than your city's (rare), you get the state rate.

Federal: $2.13 per hour cash wage, with employer claiming up to $5.12 tip credit. If tips plus $2.13 don't reach $7.25, the employer must top you up. Seven states (AK, CA, MN, MT, NV, OR, WA) ban the tip credit entirely. Flagstaff AZ joined them on 1 January 2026.

Your employer is legally required to make up the difference to ensure your effective hourly rate for that workweek equals the applicable minimum wage. If they do not, this is a minimum wage violation reportable to the DOL Wage and Hour Division.

The federal youth minimum wage is $4.25 per hour for workers under 20 years old in their first 90 consecutive calendar days with a given employer. On day 91 or on the worker's 20th birthday (whichever is sooner), the full minimum applies. California, Oregon, Washington and a few other states do not allow the youth subminimum.

Yes, unless the employee is FLSA-exempt. The white-collar exemption requires: (1) salary basis, (2) salary of at least $684/week ($35,568/year), and (3) passing a duties test for executive, administrative, professional, computer, outside sales, or highly compensated categories. All three must be satisfied.

It depends on whether the internship is a genuine training programme with primary benefit to the intern, or whether the intern is doing productive work that benefits the employer. The DOL's 7-factor primary-beneficiary test determines whether an intern is a covered employee. Most for-profit internships require minimum wage.

Yes. For FLSA-covered employers, non-exempt workers must receive at least the minimum wage for every hour worked when calculated as a total. If commission in a week divided by hours worked falls below $7.25 (or the applicable state rate), the employer must make up the difference.

Generally yes for non-family domestic workers who provide domestic services as an occupation. The 2013 Home Care Rule extended FLSA coverage to home care workers. Casual babysitters and companions to the elderly under certain conditions remain exempt.

Yes. Piece-rate workers must earn at least the applicable minimum wage for every hour worked when total piece-rate earnings are divided by total hours in the workweek. Employers cannot structure piece rates such that a worker's effective hourly rate falls below minimum wage.

CPI-indexed states automatically adjust their minimum wage each year using the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners (CPI-W). The adjustment is calculated each autumn and takes effect 1 January. No legislative action is required -- the rate rises with inflation without a political fight. 17 states plus DC are currently CPI-indexed.

States can set higher rates but not lower. Workers at FLSA-covered employers always get the higher of federal or state. Two states (Georgia, Wyoming) have state laws at $5.15, which is below federal -- but federal $7.25 applies at covered employers. Five states have no state law; federal applies.

Yes, without exception. The National Minimum Wage applies to every hour worked under a zero-hours contract. The unpredictability of hours does not affect the hourly entitlement. If you worked 8 hours this week, your employer owes you at least £12.71 x 8 = £101.68 (if aged 21+).

If the intern is doing productive work for the employer and the relationship has the characteristics of a 'worker' under UK law -- control, integration, and obligation -- they are entitled to minimum wage. Purely observational work shadowing, volunteer placements at charities, and genuine educational placements are different. Many UK employers have faced HMRC scrutiny over unpaid internships.

Working time includes time at the workplace doing your job, training time, travel between work sites (not your commute to the first site), standby at employer-designated locations, and time waiting at the employer's request. Genuine unpaid breaks, commuting, and voluntary training are not counted.

It depends whether you are genuinely free during the break. If your employer requires you to remain at your workstation or be available for work during a 'break', that time is working time and must count toward minimum wage. A genuine break where you leave the work area and are free of all responsibilities is not counted.

US: contact the DOL Wage and Hour Division at 1-866-487-9243 or online at dol.gov/agencies/whd/contact. No fee, confidential. UK: contact HMRC NMW helpline at 0300 123 1100 or report online via gov.uk. Anonymous complaints accepted in both countries.

Minimum wage is the legal floor set by government. Living wage is an independent research estimate of what workers actually need for a decent standard of living. UK: Living Wage Foundation sets the rate at £13.45 nationally and £14.80 in London (2025/26), both above the legal £12.71. US: MIT Living Wage Calculator estimates county-level needs, typically 40-80% above the federal $7.25.

The US federal rate has no scheduled increase. The UK NLW rose 4.1 percent to £12.71 on 1 April 2026. At least 22 US states plus DC raised rates on 1 January 2026; DC is also scheduled to increase to $18.40 on 1 July 2026. Florida rises to $15 in September 2026.

£8.00 per hour from 1 April 2026. This applies to apprentices under 19, or to apprentices aged 19+ who are in their first year of their apprenticeship. After the first year, apprentices receive the age-appropriate NLW or NMW rate.

In terms of nominal dollars, Tukwila WA at $21.65 is among the highest of any city globally. Seattle ($21.30), Burien WA ($21.63), and Renton WA ($21.57) are also in the top tier. In purchasing-power terms, some European city rates (Geneva CHF, Luxembourg, etc.) may be higher in absolute terms.