Washington will have the highest state minimum wage in 2026

Data: National Employment Law Project; Map: Kavya Beheraj/AxiosWashington will raise its minimum wage to $17.13 an hour on Jan. 1, making it once again the state with the highest minimum wage in the country. The big picture: 19 states are raising their wage floors next month, according to the National Employment Law Project. But Washington is one of only six whose hourly minimum wages will top $16.The others are New York ($17 in some areas, $16 statewide); Connecticut ($16.94); California ($16.90); Hawai'i ($16) and Rhode Island ($16). Washington, D.C., meanwhile, will have an hourly wage floor of $17.95.Catch up quick: Washington state voters passed Initiative 1433 in 2016 to raise the state's minimum wage to $13.50 by 2020, while tying future increases to inflation.The state's 2026 wage floor will mark a 2.8% increase from this year's minimum wage, which was $16.66.Zoom in: Several Puget Sound cities have passed their own minimum wage laws, giving them some of the nation's highest local wage floors.That includes Seattle, which is set to raise its minimum wage on Jan. 1 to $21.30.Tukwila ($21.65) also will have one of the country's highest citywide minimum wages next year, while Burien ($21.63), Renton ($21.57), Everett ($20.77) and SeaTac ($20.74) will have some of the country's highest rates for certain employers.Yes, but: Critics of higher minimum wage laws, including the conservative Washington Policy Center, have said the mandatory wage hikes raise prices and can reduce hours or job opportunities for low-wage workers.Supporters of the policies — including Seattle-mayor elect Katie Wilson — have argued prices are going up for other reasons, and higher wage floors help ensure the lowest-wage workers aren't left behind. What's next: Wilson, who worked on campaigns to raise the minimum wage in multiple Puget Sound cities, will be sworn in as Seattle mayor next month and is likely to support maintaining a high wage floor.