New Hampshire Minimum Wage in 2026
New Hampshire’s minimum wage is $7.25 an hour in 2026, the same as the federal minimum. State law sets no separate rate; it ties the state wage to “the federal minimum wage law, as amended” (RSA 279:21).
Key facts
- The state rate changes only if Congress raises the federal minimum of $7.25.
- Tipped workers must be paid at least 45% of the minimum in cash, $3.27 an hour.
- Maine, Vermont and Massachusetts all pay more than New Hampshire.
- $7.25
- New Hampshire minimum wage, 2026
- $3.27
- Minimum cash wage for tipped workers
- $15,080
- A full-time year at the minimum, before taxes
At 2,080 hours a year, the minimum wage pays $15,080 before taxes.
Why New Hampshire Uses the Federal Rate
RSA 279:21 says no employer may pay “an hourly rate lower than that set forth in the federal minimum wage law, as amended,” so New Hampshire’s rate rises only when the federal rate does. The statute already includes a second version of its opening paragraph that takes effect if the federal minimum rises above the rate in effect on July 23, 2021 (RSA 279:21).
Tipped Workers in New Hampshire
Workers in restaurants, hotels, motels, inns, cabins and ballrooms who regularly get more than $30 a month in tips must be paid at least 45% of the minimum wage in cash, $3.27 an hour. If wages plus tips fall short of the minimum for the hours worked, the employer must pay the difference (RSA 279:21).
New Hampshire and Neighboring States
Every New England state that borders New Hampshire pays more.
Minimum wage in New Hampshire and its neighbors, 2026
Source: Resist Now's minimum wage dataset, from each state's labor department
Our minimum wage by state page has every state’s rate and the scheduled changes.
New Hampshire Minimum Wage by Situation
New Hampshire minimum wage rules for your situation
- Your employer must pay at least $3.27 an hour in cash.
- If your tips plus that wage fall short of the minimum for the hours you worked, your employer must pay the difference.
- Keep your pay stubs and a record of your hours.
- Contact the New Hampshire Department of Labor.
New Hampshire Minimum Wage Questions
What is the minimum wage in New Hampshire?
$7.25 an hour, the federal minimum. State law adopts the federal rate instead of setting its own.
What is the tipped minimum wage in New Hampshire?
$3.27 an hour in cash, which is 45% of the minimum wage. If wages plus tips fall short of the minimum, the employer must pay the difference.
Will New Hampshire’s minimum wage go up?
Only if the federal minimum wage rises, because RSA 279:21 ties the state rate to the federal one. The state has no yearly increase of its own.
What You Can Do
- Check your pay stub against the $7.25 rate, or $3.27 in cash if you earn tips.
- Report unpaid wages to the New Hampshire Department of Labor.
- Compare other states on our minimum wage by state page.
- Vote on November 3. The governor and every seat in the General Court are on the ballot. See our New Hampshire governor race guide.