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California vs Texas: Minimum Wage
California has a higher minimum wage than Texas by $9.
National Rankings
Where They Rank Nationally
See where both states fall among all 50 states for minimum wage.
California
#2 · $16.50/hr
Texas
#47 · $7.25/hr
Lowest
Highest
Top 10 States — Minimum Wage
#1
Washington
$16.66/hr
Washington
#2
California
$16.50/hr
California
#3
New York
$16.50/hr
New York
#4
Connecticut
$16.35/hr
Connecticut
#5
Hawaii
$16.00/hr
Hawaii
#6
Oregon
$15.95/hr
Oregon
#7
New Jersey
$15.49/hr
New Jersey
#8
Illinois
$15.00/hr
Illinois
#9
Maryland
$15.00/hr
Maryland
#10
Massachusetts
$15.00/hr
Massachusetts
Selected states
#47
Texas
$7.25/hr
Texas
California ranks 2nd and Texas ranks 47th nationally for minimum wage.
Related context
Minimum Wage in Context
A minimum wage only makes sense relative to what things cost and what the local market actually pays.
What this means
California vs Texas: Minimum Wage in context
California's minimum wage is $16.50/hr, compared with $7.25/hr in Texas — roughly 2.3× the Texas figure. State minimum wage in U.S. dollars per hour (U.S. Department of Labor, updated January 1, 2026).
California
$16.50/hr
Texas
$7.25/hr
Difference
$9
People also ask
California vs Texas Minimum Wage — common questions
QWhat is California's minimum wage?
California's minimum wage is $16.50/hr.
QWhat is Texas's minimum wage?
Texas's minimum wage is $7.25/hr.
QWhich state has a higher minimum wage — California or Texas?
California has a higher minimum wage than Texas by $9.
QHow much more minimum wage does California have compared to Texas?
$9.
More comparisons: California vs Texas
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Data source and freshness
Primary source
Data period
January 1, 2026
Dataset reviewed
July 23, 2026
Method note
Statewide base minimum; local and occupation-specific rules may differ.