Nineteen states and many more cities plan to increase minimum wage in 2026. Will Mississippi residents get a boost in their paychecks?
States around the nation have been raising minimum wage to help workers have more purchasing power in light of affordability challenges like rising grocery prices, health care costs and housing expenses.
Some states raise the minimum wage a little every few years, so it stays roughly in line with inflation and price increases. Others, however, let the rate be set by the federal minimum, which hasn't increased in 15 years.
About 23 states raised the minimum wage in 2025. According to the National Employment Law Project, 19 plan to raise it on Jan. 1 with another four boosting residents' paychecks in 2026.
Here's what we know about minimum wage in Mississippi and across the U.S.
No, Mississippi is not among the 19 states raising the minimum wage, which is $7.25 per hour for covered nonexempt workers.
The Magnolia State is among many without their own rate. Instead, that's set by the Federal Fair Labor Standards Act. (Some states have lower rates that are trumped by federal law.)
The federal rate is $2.13 per hour for employees who get tips. But if your tips don't bring your total pay to $7.25 per hour, the employer is supposed to pay the difference.
According to a report from NLEP, 19 states raising the minimum wage on Jan. 1, 2026:
Over the last decade, Bangladesh has witnessed a recurring pattern of targeted violence, legal intimidation, and social unrest linked to allegations of blasphemy. According to reports from the Hum...