EMPLOYMENT LAW NEWS
New Minimum Wage Labor Law Posters: January 1, 2026
Find the information you need on the minimum wage poster updates for January 1, 2026.
While temperatures are dropping, minimum wage rates continue to rise in the coming new year!
Jurisdictions at the state, county, and city levels across the country will see rates grow. And with new rates, minimum wage poster updates follow. This article will go over jurisdictions that require new labor law posters to be displayed at the start of the new year.
Minimum Wage Labor Law Poster Updates by State: Jan.1, 2026
Arizona
Arizona has increased its minimum wage for Jan. 1, 2026, to the following:
- Standard rate: $15.15
- Tipped rate: $12.15
Arizona’s minimum wage poster contains a wide range of information, including exemption, gratuities, retaliation, and contact information requirements.
For GovDocs Labor Law Poster Program clients, the poster has been shipped, so customers should keep an eye out for new posters at their Arizona locations!
Two Arizona cities also released updated minimum wage posters for Jan. 1, 2026:
- Flagstaff
- Tucson
California
California is a much-anticipated state every year for updated minimum wage posters. This is due to multiple factors—including higher wage rates, jurisdictional complexity, and the number of local cities and counties updating annually.
California’s state-level minimum wage increases on Jan. 1, 2026, as follows:
- Standard rate: $16.90
California does not have a separate tipped wage.
Employers should note that California requires wage orders to be posted specific to their industries. California’s minimum wage poster is also extensively detailed, and includes the statutory authority, a meal and lodging credit table, and directions for obtaining appropriate contact information. The California minimum wage poster and wage orders have not been updated at this time, but they are usually released in late December.
Below is a table of city and county level jurisdictions in California with minimum wage posters updating come Jan.1, 2026:
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- Jurisdiction
- Belmont
- Burlingame
- Cupertino
- Daly City
- East Palo Alto
- El Cerrito
- Foster City
- Half Moon Bay
- Hayward
- Los Altos
- Menlo Park
- Mountain View
- Novato
- Oakland
- Palo Alto
- Jurisdiction (continued)
- Petaluma
- Redwood City
- Richmond
- San Carlos
- San Diego
- San Jose
- San Mateo
- San Mateo County
- Santa Clara
- Santa Rosa
- Sonoma
- South San Francisco
- Sunnyvale
- West Hollywood
- Palo Alto
Colorado
The Centennial State’s minimum wage is also set to rise at the start of the new year. Colorado’s annual minimum wage adjustments are unique, with the state publishing a new PAY CALC (Publication And Yearly Calculation of Adjusted Labor Compensation) and COMPS Order (Colorado Overtime Minimum Pay Standards) each year. These yearly publications provide employers with updated wage and hour regulations heading into Jan. 1.
Currently, the state is undergoing their yearly comment period for the proposed orders. We expect the final orders to be released closer to the end of the year. Based on the proposed PAYCALC Order, the minimum wage rate will increase on Jan. 1, 2026, to:
- Standard rate: $15.16
- Tipped rate: $12.14
Colorado allows employers to take a $3.02 tip credit against the standard minimum wage for covered tipped workers.
One city is also updating their minimum wage poster for Jan. 1:
- Denver
The Colorado and Denver minimum wage posters are yet to be released.
Maine
Maine will also see an updated wage rate:
- Standard rate: $15.10
- Tipped rate: $7.55
The state minimum wage poster has been shipped and covers a wide variety of information –municipal wage ordinances, exemptions, and recordkeeping.
Below are local jurisdictions in Maine that will have updated minimum wage posters:
- Rockland
- Portland
Employers should also keep an eye out for the Rockland minimum wage poster as that has been released by the city. Portland, however, has not, but more information on its release is expected after election day.
Minnesota
The “Land of 10,000 Lakes” will see an increase at both the state level and in the Twin Cities. At the state level, the minimum wage will increase on Jan. 1, 2026, to:
- Standard rate: $11.41
Both Twin Cities are updating for Jan. 1, 2026:
- Minneapolis
- St. Paul
Please note that only Macro and Large Companies will see an increase in St. Paul. Please check local ordinances to determine your business size. The new state and city of St. Paul posters have been released.
Missouri
Next on the list of Jan. 1, 2026, minimum wage updates is Missouri:
- Standard rate: $15.00
- Tipped Rate: $7.50
The poster offers a clean read, detailing, tipped wages, overtime, exceptions, and other employee rights and requirements. The poster has also been released by the state.
Montana
The “Big Sky Country” is updating their rate for Jan. 1, 2026, to:
- Standard rate: $10.85
Montana does not have a separate tipped employee wage. The corresponding MW poster has been released by the state, and it outlines overtime, payment of wages, and tipped credit information.
New Jersey
The Jersey Shore will make waves as employers approach the $16.00 threshold, updating the state minimum wage on Jan. 1, 2026, to:
- Standard rate for large employers: $15.92
- Standard rate for small employers: $15.23
- Tipped rate for large employers: $6.05
Employers should keep an eye out for an updated poster, detailing wage order regulations, exemptions, farm piece rates, exemptions, and penalty information, to stay compliant.
Please note, New Jersey also offers a variety of wage orders for different industries. Employers in certain industries should ensure that their locations are compliant with the corresponding wage order(s).
New York
Another anticipated state with annual minimum wage updates is New York. New York breaks down their minimum wage into three regions – New York City; Westchester, Nassau, Suffolk counties; and then the remainder of New York State. The remainder of New York State is updating on Jan. 1, 2026, to:
- Standard rate: $16.00
New York also has multiple tipped rates that depend on industry, including food service, resort service, and general service.
The state’s minimum wage poster includes discussion on credits and allowances, overtime, meals and lodging, etc. New York also offers over a dozen wage orders, so employers should determine which industry wage order applies to them for proper adherence to state regulation.
New York has not released updated minimum wage posters and wage orders; however, New York typically releases the updated posters in January.
Ohio
Ohio increases the state minimum wage on Jan. 1, 2026, as follows:
- Standard rate: $11.00
- Tipped rate: $5.50
Ohio packs quite a punch in its newly released poster with overtime, recordkeeping, exemptions, subminimum wage rate and other requirements.
Rhode Island
Rhode Island’s wage rate is increasing by one dollar in 2026, a significant jump for many employers and employees, while the tipped rate will remain the same at $3.89. Nevertheless, the standard minimum wage increases on Jan. 1, 2026, to:
- Standard rate: $16.00
The poster covers overtime, student and minor pay, mandatory nurse overtime and much more. The poster has not been released by the applicable state agency to date.
South Dakota
South Dakota will be increasing their minimum wage to:
- Standard rate: $11.85
- Tipped rate: $5.925
Their poster includes minimum wage and contact information for questions or potential violations.
South Dakota has released their poster, and GovDocs Update Program customers should look out for shipments heading to their South Dakota locations.
Virginia
Virginia’s minimum wage adjusts on Jan. 1, 2026, to the following:
- $12.77
Virginia’s tipped employee rate will continue to follow the federal rate. Its minimum wage poster informs employees of tips, the annual adjustment, and business size requirements. The poster has not been released yet, but the GovDocs Compliance Team continues to monitor.
Vermont
As we are near the end of the list, Vermont is another state to update. On Jan. 1, 2026, the rates increase to:
- Standard rate: $14.42
- Tipped rate: $7.21
Vermont’s applicable poster provides past and present minimum wages as well as tipped wage information. Vermont has not yet released their 2026 minimum wage poster.
Washington
Last, but certainly not least, is Washington. The state wage will increase on Jan. 1, 2026, to:
- Standard rate: $17.13
Washington is also a state that is becoming increasingly complex as the years pass with multiple cities and a county enacting their own minimum wage ordinances. Here are the local jurisdictions that have minimum wage posters updating for Jan. 1, 2026:
- Seattle
- Tukwila
- King County Unincorporated
- Everett (new poster release)
Washington, Seattle, and Everett’s minimum wage posters have been released while Tukwila and King County’s posters have not.
Conclusion
With minimum wage laws in a continual state of change, GovDocs’ Minimum Wage management platform provides solutions to help employers combat these often complex updates so they can remain in compliance across jurisdictional boundaries.
GovDocs also offers a simple and easy way to ensure you stay in compliance with labor law posters with our Labor Law Poster Program.
This Employment Law News blog is intended for market awareness only, it is not to be used for legal advice or counsel.
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