Arizona minimum wage increases in 2026
Eduardo Morales
YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Both Arizona and California saw their minimum wage increase by forty cents or more on January 1, 2026.
California’s minimum wage increased from $16.50 to $16.90. Meanwhile, Arizona’s increased from $14.70 to $15.15.
Arizona’s is now nearly double the federal minimum wage which is $7.25.
Local business owner and employee CJ Alberts, says she likes the increase, but believes it should be even more.
“I think it’s great. I don’t think it’s nearly enough,” she says. “I don’t think that’s enough for people to live on by any means. We’re in a cost-of-living crisis and anything employers can do to reinvest in their workforce and their employees they should be doing.”
Alberts says as a business owner she likes to reward her employees for making the business work.
“Every time our business is profitable, I try to do everything in my power to again, reinvest it back into the people that make this place run,” she explains.
Meanwhile, Ashley Simms, the owner of the local coffee shop Cafecito provided this statement:
“We understand the cost of living is rising and we also knew this would be coming. We may have to raise prices a little bit because not only is the wage increase happening, but the cost of goods sold is higher now than ever! Even through COVID, when prices rose so drastically, it didn’t impact us like it is now. We will raise wages and encourage people to tip on services provided…Those few extra percentages on a check really help small businesses like us to help support our workers and their families.”
This new minimum wage equals over $31,000 dollars a year.
More information can be read through an informational poster below.