Roundup: US employer resources on $15/hour or higher minimum wage rates 

January 5, 2026

On March 14, 2025, President Trump rescinded former President Biden’s April 2021 executive order requiring federal contractors to pay a $15 hourly minimum wage to workers for new federal contract solicitations starting Jan. 30, 2022 and increasing to $17.75/hour in 2025. Federal appeals courts have taken different positions on the legality of the 2021 order, and the Department of Labor rules implementing the order remain in place. Executive Order 13658 — which was implemented by the Obama administration and requires federal contractors to pay $13.30/hour — also remains. The situation is in flux, and there is no clear new official minimum wage rate published for 2026. Numerous states have taken action to gradually increase the minimum wage to at least $15/hour for most employees. To help employers prepare and address related issues, this roundup provides links to federal and state resources from organizations, government websites, third-party resources and news articles. The aggregated content in each section is organized in reverse chronological order and is by no means comprehensive. The content also does not necessarily reflect Mercer’s or the authors’ point of view on the subject.

Download the print-friendly PDF to read the full GRIST.