What changes for employers on January 1, 2027

2027 employment law changes by state: minimum wages, exempt salary thresholds and other employer rules with a 2027 effective date, each with its official source and the exact text.

On this page

• What stands out
• Pick your state
• 2027 rates by state
• Exempt salary thresholds 2027
• Minimum wage 2027
• Federal and other 2027 updates
• Every change, by date
• Questions about 2027
• Method, period, n and caveats
• Download the list (JSON)

What stands out

1. 12 states already have a verified statewide minimum wage for January 1, 2027. California $17.40, Connecticut $17.48, Maine $15.70, Michigan $15.00, Minnesota $11.87, Montana $11.20, New Jersey $16.48 (most workers), Ohio $11.40 (non-tipped employees; which businesses it covers: pending verification), Rhode Island $17.00, South Dakota $12.30 (non-tipped employees), Virginia $13.75 and Washington $17.73. Each figure is verified on two official pages; each card below quotes one of them. Also Colorado $15.71 per hour in 2027 (date in the proposed 2027 PAY CALC Order: “if adopted, effective January 1, 2027”). No general increase on January 1, 2027 (verified): Hawaii and New York.
2. 8 changes follow a formula and the new number is not verified on an official page yet. Arizona, Saint Paul, MN, Nebraska, Vermont, District of Columbia, Chicago, IL, Montgomery County, MD and Oregon. We show the official text that sets the formula and no guessed number.
3. 6 states set their own salary threshold for the overtime exemption above the federal $684 a week in 2027. Alaska, California, Colorado, Maine, New York and Washington. Everywhere else the federal $684 a week ($35,568 a year) applies. The figures are in the 2027 exempt salary thresholds table below.
4. 11 changes take effect after January 1, the first on June 30, 2027. Washington, Alaska, California, Los Angeles, CA, District of Columbia, Chicago, IL, Montgomery County, MD, Saint Paul, MN, Oregon and Delaware.
5. 10 changes are set by a city or county, not the state. Boulder (city), CO, Boulder County (unincorporated), CO, Minneapolis, MN, Saint Paul, MN, Santa Fe (city), NM, Seattle, WA, Los Angeles, CA, Chicago, IL and Montgomery County, MD. A local minimum wage applies on top of the state rule where it is higher.

Pick your state

States not in this list: 26 states with no 2027 change found yet; Hawaii: no minimum wage increase in 2027 (verified).

2027 minimum wage and exempt salary threshold by state

2027 minimum wage: 12 states with a verified January 1, 2027 rate (California, Connecticut, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Jersey, Ohio, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Virginia and Washington), Alaska from July 1, 2027, and Colorado $15.71 per hour in 2027 (date in the proposed 2027 PAY CALC Order: “if adopted, effective January 1, 2027”) (CDLE 2027 PAY CALC Order (proposed)); verified: no increase in 2027 in Hawaii; no general increase on January 1, 2027 in New York; pending verification in Arizona, District of Columbia, Nebraska, Oregon and Vermont; no 2027 minimum wage change found in official sources yet in the others. Exempt salary threshold 2027: 6 states set their own above the federal $684 a week ($35,568 a year) (Alaska, California, Colorado, Maine, New York and Washington); the federal threshold applies in the others. Each figure links its official sources and shows the date we verified it; the state name opens the state's employment laws page.

2027 exempt salary thresholds by state

The federal threshold is $684 a week ($35,568 a year) for executive, administrative and professional employees (29 CFR 541.600). The 2024 rule that would have raised it was vacated by federal courts and removed from the regulations by a technical amendment effective May 15, 2026. Source: Federal Register 91 FR 27833 (May 15, 2026): technical amendment implementing the court judgments.

The salary is one test, not the only one: “This is only one of the factors used in determining whether a worker is exempt from overtime pay under federal or state law.” (Maine Department of Labor news release).

Computed: the annual figure is the weekly one x 52 (or the weekly one is the annual one / 52) when the source states only one of them. Where both are official, both are quoted.

New York: $1,275 a week in NYC, Long Island, Westchester and $1,199.10 a week in the rest of the state for executive and administrative employees, in force since January 1, 2026. No 2027 figure is on an official page we could read yet. For professional employees New York sets no salary figure, so the federal threshold applies to them. The Department of Labor says “Each time the New York State minimum wage increases, the state’s minimum salary required for executive and administrative employees will increase proportionately.” (New York State Department of Labor, minimum wage FAQ) and “On January 1, 2027, New York’s minimum wage will stay the same.” (New York State Department of Labor, minimum wage page). The Attorney General: “If you are in a professional occupation, under New York law there is no minimum weekly salary requirement and you are not entitled to overtime.” (New York State Office of the Attorney General: wages and pay).

Colorado: $1,111.23 a week ($57,784 a year), in force since February 1, 2026. The 2027 figure is proposed, not adopted yet: $1,151.23 a week ($59,864 a year), with a public hearing on November 2, 2026. (Colorado Department of Labor and Employment: proposed 2027 PAY CALC Order (September 30, 2026))

States where the federal threshold applies ($684 a week)

In these 44 states and DC we found no state salary threshold above the federal one, so employers covered by the federal overtime law use the federal $684 a week ($35,568 a year) (U.S. Department of Labor: earnings thresholds for the white-collar exemptions).

• Alabama
• Arizona
• Arkansas
• Connecticut
• Delaware
• District of Columbia
• Florida
• Georgia
• Hawaii
• Idaho
• Illinois
• Indiana
• Iowa
• Kansas
• Kentucky
• Louisiana
• Maryland
• Massachusetts
• Michigan
• Minnesota
• Mississippi
• Missouri
• Montana
• Nebraska
• Nevada
• New Hampshire
• New Jersey
• New Mexico
• North Carolina
• North Dakota
• Ohio
• Oklahoma
• Oregon
• Pennsylvania
• Rhode Island
• South Carolina
• South Dakota
• Tennessee
• Texas
• Utah
• Vermont
• Virginia
• West Virginia
• Wisconsin
• Wyoming

Minimum wage 2027: is there an increase on January 1, 2027?

States people ask about

• Hawaii: no increase in 2027. $16.00 an hour since January 1, 2026; the next step is $18.00 an hour beginning January 1, 2028 (Hawaii Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, minimum wage page; U.S. Department of Labor, State Minimum Wage Laws).
• Illinois: no statewide 2027 change found in official sources. Now: “Beginning January 1, 2025, the minimum wage in Illinois is $15.00 per hour for those individuals who are 18 years and older.” (Illinois Department of Labor, Minimum Wage/Overtime FAQ (820 ILCS 105/4)).
• Indiana: no statewide 2027 change found in official sources. Now: “Both the federal and Indiana state minimum wage increased from $6.55 per hour to $7.25 per hour, effective July 24, 2009.” (Indiana Department of Labor, Indiana Minimum Wage Law poster (PDF)).
• Oregon: the July 1, 2027 rate is not verified on an official page yet (Official minimum wage source for Oregon). Now: “$15.55 per hour - Standard” (Oregon BOLI, Minimum Wage). See the Oregon 2027 changes.
• Vermont: the January 1, 2027 rate is not verified on an official page yet (Official minimum wage source for Vermont). Now: “Beginning January 1, 2026, the State’s minimum wage will increase from $14.01 to $14.42 per hour” (Vermont Department of Labor press release (21 V.S.A. § 384)). See the Vermont 2027 changes.

California minimum wage 2027

California's statewide minimum wage: $17.40 per hour from January 1, 2027 (CA DIR news release 2026-66; CA Dept. of Finance letter). Verified Oct 21, 2026. The salary threshold for the overtime exemption is $72,384 a year from January 1, 2027 (DIR news release 2026-66; IWC Wage Order 4). Verified Oct 21, 2026. Later in 2027: Health care workers at safety-net hospitals (high governmental payor or rural independent hospitals): $19.95/hour from July 1, 2027 (scheduled by statute; dir.ca.gov); Health care workers at intermittent clinics, community clinics, rural health clinics and the urgent care clinics associated with them: $25.00/hour from July 1, 2027 (scheduled by statute; dir.ca.gov); Los Angeles, CA, hotel workers: hotels with 60 or more rooms (50 or more in the Airport Hospitality Enhancement Zone): $25.50/hour + $6.00/hour health benefit from July 1, 2027 (scheduled by statute; wagesla.lacity.gov). Each change with its official text: California rules. Every California 2027 rate in one place: California minimum wage 2027.

Every state's current and 2027 rate: minimum wage by state 2027.

2027 employment law updates people ask about: federal, New York, Colorado, Washington, Michigan, Minnesota, North Carolina and Chicago

• Federal: no federal rule change with a 2027 effective date found in official sources. The exempt salary threshold is $684 a week ($35,568 a year) (see the exempt salary section above). The federal minimum wage is $7.25 an hour, in force since July 24, 2009 (U.S. Department of Labor: earnings thresholds for the white-collar exemptions; U.S. Department of Labor, minimum wage page).
• New York: no general minimum wage increase on January 1, 2027 (stays $17.00/hour in New York City, Long Island and Westchester and $16.00/hour in the rest of the state). 1 change with an official source: minimum wage for home care aides only $20.00/hour (New York City, Long Island and Westchester); $19.00/hour (rest of the state) from January 1, 2027 (NY DOL minimum wage page). See the New York changes.
• Colorado: 4 changes with an official source: minimum wage $15.71/hour from January 1, 2027 (date in the proposed 2027 PAY CALC Order: “if adopted, effective January 1, 2027”); tipped minimum wage $12.69/hour from January 1, 2027 (date in the proposed 2027 PAY CALC Order: “if adopted, effective January 1, 2027”); Boulder (city), CO: minimum wage $18.17/hour from January 1, 2027; Boulder County (unincorporated), CO: minimum wage $17.43/hour from January 1, 2027 (7 CCR 1103-14, 2027 PAY CALC Order (as proposed September 30, 2026); CDLE press release, Aug. 13, 2026; Official minimum wage source for Boulder (city), CO; Official minimum wage source for Boulder County (unincorporated), CO). See the Colorado changes.
• Washington: 6 changes with an official source: salary threshold for overtime exemption $1,773.00/week ($92,196.00/year) for employers with 51 or more employees (2.5 x the state minimum wage x 40 hours) from January 1, 2027; salary threshold for overtime exemption $1,595.70/week ($82,976.40/year) for employers with 50 or fewer employees (2.25 x the state minimum wage x 40 hours) from January 1, 2027; minimum wage $17.73/hour from January 1, 2027; non-compete agreements $131,326.59/year earnings threshold for employees to be bound by a non-compete, January to June 2027 from January 1, 2027; Seattle, WA: minimum wage $22.14/hour from January 1, 2027; non-compete agreements all noncompetition covenants void and unenforceable (RCW 49.62.020 as amended by 2026 c 149) from June 30, 2027 (L&I news release 26-17; Official minimum wage source for Seattle, WA; Official non-compete agreements source for Washington). See the Washington changes.
• Michigan: 1 change with an official source: minimum wage $15.00/hour from January 1, 2027 (Official minimum wage source for Michigan). See the Michigan changes.
• Minnesota: 4 changes with an official source and 1 pending verification: minimum wage $11.87/hour from January 1, 2027; training wage for first 90 days of employment, workers under 20 $9.68/hour from January 1, 2027; Minneapolis, MN: minimum wage $17.02/hour from January 1, 2027; Saint Paul, MN: minimum wage for macro (more than 10,000 employees) and large (101 to 10,000) employers on January 1, 2027, pending verification; Saint Paul, MN: minimum wage for micro businesses (5 or fewer employees) $15.00/hour from July 1, 2027 (Official minimum wage source for Minnesota; Official training wage source for Minnesota; Official minimum wage source for Minneapolis, MN; Official minimum wage source for Saint Paul, MN). See the Minnesota changes.
• North Carolina: no statewide 2027 change found in official sources. Now: “The minimum wage in North Carolina is currently $7.25 an hour.” (NC Department of Labor, Minimum Wage in N.C.).
• Chicago: 1 pending verification: Chicago, IL: minimum wage on July 1, 2027, pending verification (Official minimum wage source for Chicago, IL). See the Chicago changes.

Other states: pick your state. How each source is checked: method.

Every change, by date

Labels: Confirmed (the agency has announced the number); Scheduled by statute (the number or date is written in a statute, ordinance or regulation); Pending verification (the change follows an indexing formula, or its number is on only one official page, and no second official source with the number could be read yet).

January 1, 2027

Arizona

California

Colorado

Connecticut

Maine

Maryland

Michigan

Minnesota

Montana

Nebraska

New Jersey

New Mexico

New York

Ohio

Rhode Island

South Dakota

Vermont

Virginia

Washington

June 30, 2027

Washington

July 1, 2027

Alaska

California

District of Columbia

Illinois

Maryland

Minnesota

Oregon

September 26, 2027

Delaware

No 2027 change found yet: 26 states; no minimum wage increase in 2027: Hawaii

We have not found a 2027 change with an official source for these states yet. That does not mean nothing changes: cities, counties and agencies announce many 2027 figures in the fall. Check your state labor office (list of state labor offices, dol.gov).

• Alabama: no 2027 change found in official sources yet. Minimum wage today: Pending verification.
• Arkansas: no 2027 change found in official sources yet. Minimum wage today: $11.00 per hour (Arkansas Minimum Wage Act (U.S. DOL WHD State Minimum Wage Laws table); verified Sep 27, 2026).
• Florida: no 2027 change found in official sources yet. Minimum wage today: Pending verification.
• Georgia: no 2027 change found in official sources yet. Minimum wage today: $7.25 per hour (federal; state $5.15 applies only to employers of 6 or more employees not covered by the FLSA) (State Minimum Wage Laws (U.S. DOL Wage and Hour Division table, updated July 1, 2026); verified Sep 27, 2026).
• Hawaii: no minimum wage increase in 2027 ($16.00 per hour; Hawaii DLIR minimum wage page; U.S. DOL state table; verified Nov 6, 2026).
• Idaho: no 2027 change found in official sources yet. Minimum wage today: $7.25 per hour (State Minimum Wage Laws (U.S. DOL Wage and Hour Division table, updated July 1, 2026); verified Aug 31, 2026).
• Indiana: no 2027 change found in official sources yet. Minimum wage today: $7.25 per hour (State Minimum Wage Laws (U.S. DOL Wage and Hour Division table, updated July 1, 2026); verified Sep 27, 2026).
• Iowa: no 2027 change found in official sources yet. Minimum wage today: $7.25 per hour (State Minimum Wage Laws (U.S. DOL Wage and Hour Division table, updated July 1, 2026); verified Sep 27, 2026).
• Kansas: no 2027 change found in official sources yet. Minimum wage today: $7.25 per hour (State Minimum Wage Laws (U.S. DOL Wage and Hour Division table, updated July 1, 2026); verified Sep 27, 2026).
• Kentucky: no 2027 change found in official sources yet. Minimum wage today: $7.25 per hour (State Minimum Wage Laws (U.S. DOL Wage and Hour Division table, updated July 1, 2026); verified Sep 27, 2026).
• Louisiana: no 2027 change found in official sources yet. Minimum wage today: Pending verification.
• Massachusetts: no 2027 change found in official sources yet. Minimum wage today: $15.00 per hour (Massachusetts minimum wage law (DOL WHD state minimum wage table, updated July 1, 2026); verified Sep 25, 2026).
• Mississippi: no 2027 change found in official sources yet. Minimum wage today: Pending verification.
• Missouri: no 2027 change found in official sources yet. Minimum wage today: $15.00 per hour (Missouri minimum wage law (DOL WHD state minimum wage table, updated July 1, 2026); verified Sep 27, 2026).
• Nevada: no 2027 change found in official sources yet. Minimum wage today: $12.00 per hour (Nevada minimum wage (U.S. DOL WHD, State Minimum Wage Laws, updated July 1, 2026); verified Sep 21, 2026).
• New Hampshire: no 2027 change found in official sources yet. Minimum wage today: $7.25 per hour (New Hampshire minimum wage (U.S. DOL WHD, State Minimum Wage Laws, updated July 1, 2026); verified Sep 25, 2026).
• North Carolina: no 2027 change found in official sources yet. Minimum wage today: $7.25 per hour (North Carolina minimum wage (U.S. DOL WHD, State Minimum Wage Laws, updated July 1, 2026); verified Sep 27, 2026).
• North Dakota: no 2027 change found in official sources yet. Minimum wage today: $7.25 per hour (North Dakota minimum wage (U.S. DOL WHD, State Minimum Wage Laws, updated July 1, 2026); verified Sep 27, 2026).
• Oklahoma: no 2027 change found in official sources yet. Minimum wage today: $7.25 per hour (U.S. DOL WHD, State Minimum Wage Laws (Oklahoma); verified Sep 27, 2026).
• Pennsylvania: no 2027 change found in official sources yet. Minimum wage today: $7.25 per hour (U.S. DOL WHD, State Minimum Wage Laws (Pennsylvania); verified Sep 27, 2026).
• South Carolina: no 2027 change found in official sources yet. Minimum wage today: Pending verification.
• Tennessee: no 2027 change found in official sources yet. Minimum wage today: No state minimum wage law; federal $7.25 applies (U.S. DOL WHD, State Minimum Wage Laws (Tennessee); verified Sep 25, 2026).
• Texas: no 2027 change found in official sources yet. Minimum wage today: $7.25 per hour (Texas minimum wage law (U.S. DOL WHD state minimum wage table); verified Sep 24, 2026).
• Utah: no 2027 change found in official sources yet. Minimum wage today: $7.25 per hour (Utah Minimum Wage Act (U.S. DOL WHD state minimum wage table); verified Sep 27, 2026).
• West Virginia: no 2027 change found in official sources yet. Minimum wage today: $8.75 per hour (W. Va. Code § 21-5C-2 (U.S. DOL WHD state minimum wage table); verified Sep 27, 2026).
• Wisconsin: no 2027 change found in official sources yet. Minimum wage today: $7.25 per hour (Wis. Stat. ch. 104 (U.S. DOL WHD state minimum wage table); verified Sep 27, 2026).
• Wyoming: no 2027 change found in official sources yet. Minimum wage today: $7.25 per hour (federal; state $5.15 applies only to employers not covered by the FLSA) (Wyoming minimum wage law (U.S. DOL WHD state minimum wage table); verified Sep 27, 2026).

Questions about 2027

Method, period, n and caveats

Period: changes with an effective date in 2027. n: 43 changes in 24 jurisdictions (states and DC, with their cities and counties), each with an official source and a quote re-checked against the saved page text. Caveat: a state missing from the list may still change a rule in 2027; the list grows as agencies announce new figures.

What the labels mean

• Confirmed: the agency has announced the number.
• Scheduled by statute: the number or date is written in a statute, ordinance or regulation.
• Pending verification: the change follows an indexing formula, or its number is on only one official page, and no second official source with the number could be read yet.

How the Desk checks sources: methodology.

Download the list

Field by field description: Employer Desk API documentation.

Sources (74)

• Arizona: Minimum wage
• California: Salary threshold for overtime exemption; California: Minimum wage
• Colorado: Minimum wage; Colorado: Tipped minimum wage
• Boulder (city), CO: Minimum wage
• Boulder County (unincorporated), CO: Minimum wage
• Connecticut: Minimum wage
• Maine: Salary threshold for overtime exemption; Maine: Minimum wage; Maine: Tipped minimum wage
• Maryland: Paid family and medical leave contributions
• Michigan: Minimum wage
• Minnesota: Minimum wage
• Minnesota: Training wage
• Minneapolis, MN: Minimum wage
• Saint Paul, MN: Minimum wage
• Montana: Minimum wage
• Nebraska: Minimum wage
• New Jersey: Minimum wage
• Santa Fe (city), NM: Minimum wage
• New York: Minimum wage
• Ohio: Minimum wage
• Rhode Island: Minimum wage
• South Dakota: Minimum wage
• Vermont: Minimum wage
• Virginia: Minimum wage
• Washington: Salary threshold for overtime exemption; Washington: Minimum wage; Washington: Non-compete agreements
• Seattle, WA: Minimum wage
• Washington: Non-compete agreements
• Alaska: Minimum wage
• California: Minimum wage
• Los Angeles, CA: Minimum wage
• District of Columbia: Minimum wage
• Chicago, IL: Minimum wage
• Montgomery County, MD: Minimum wage
• Oregon: Minimum wage
• Delaware: Pay ranges in job postings
• U.S. Department of Labor: earnings thresholds for the white-collar exemptions
• Electronic Code of Federal Regulations
• Federal Register 91 FR 27833 (May 15, 2026): technical amendment implementing the court judgments
• Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development, General Industry notice
• AS 23.10.055(b)
• IWC Wage Order 4-2001 (8 CCR 11040), section 1(A)
• Colorado Department of Labor and Employment: adopted 2026 PAY CALC Order
• Code of Colorado Regulations (Colorado Secretary of State)
• Colorado Department of Labor and Employment: proposed 2027 PAY CALC Order (September 30, 2026)
• Colorado Department of Labor and Employment: labor rules proposed and adopted
• 26 M.R.S. §663(3)(K)
• New York State Department of Labor, minimum wage FAQ
• New York State Office of the Attorney General: wages and pay
• 12 NYCRR 142-2.14(c)(4)(i)(e) (Part 142 Minimum Wage Order, NY DOL)
• WAC 296-128-545(8)
• Hawaii Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, minimum wage page
• U.S. Department of Labor, State Minimum Wage Laws
• U.S. Department of Labor, minimum wage page
• United States Code on govinfo.gov
• Illinois Department of Labor, Minimum Wage/Overtime FAQ (820 ILCS 105/4)
• Indiana Department of Labor, Indiana Minimum Wage Law poster (PDF)
• Oregon BOLI, Minimum Wage
• Vermont Department of Labor press release (21 V.S.A. § 384)
• NC Department of Labor, Minimum Wage in N.C.
• CA Dept. of Finance letter
• Alaska DOLWD Pamphlet 100
• CT DOL Wage and Workplace Standards
• Maine DOL labor law FAQ
• Michigan LEO minimum wage FAQ
• Minnesota DLI minimum wage page
• Minnesota DLI news, Aug. 19, 2026
• Montana DLI 2027 determination letter
• NJDOL Wage and Hour employer FAQ
• NJDOL home page
• Ohio 2027 Minimum Wage poster
• R.I. Gen. Laws 28-12-3
• South Dakota DLR 2027 poster
• Virginia DOLI home page
• Va. Code 40.1-28.10
• L&I minimum wage page

Checked Nov 6, 2026 · How we verify every rule · Report an error

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