Arizona Minimum Wage to Rise to $15.15 in 2026
Arizona Minimum Wage Set to Increase on Jan. 1, 2026
Arizona's minimum wage is scheduled to change again on Jan. 1, 2026, with the rate increasing from $14.70 to $15.15 per hour across the state.
The planned adjustment to the statewide minimum wage is intended to account for inflation reported between August 2024 and August 2025. The change will apply beginning on the first day of 2026.
Background on Voter-Approved Wage Policy
Several years ago, voters in Arizona approved a ballot initiative that raised the state minimum wage to $12 by the year 2020. The same initiative also required the minimum wage to continue rising in subsequent years whenever the local cost of living increases.
Under this policy framework, the upcoming move from $14.70 to $15.15 on Jan. 1, 2026, represents a continuation of the inflation-linked adjustments mandated after the initial increase to $12.
Exceptions and Provisions for Certain Workers
The state minimum wage law does not apply to every worker in Arizona. Individuals who are employed by a parent or a sibling are exempt from the minimum wage requirement. In addition, some small businesses may also be exempt from the wage rule, though specific qualifying criteria are not detailed in the provided information.
For tipped workers in Arizona, employers are permitted to pay up to $3 less than the established minimum wage, provided the employer can demonstrate that the worker’s total earnings, including tips, are at least equal to the prevailing minimum wage level.
Context in Phoenix and Maricopa County
Phoenix, the state capital and county seat of Maricopa County, is identified as the census-designated fifth most populous city in the United States. Maricopa County itself is described as the fourth largest county in the United States by population, with 4,485,414 residents recorded in the 2020 Census.
Maricopa County contains around 63% of Arizona’s population and spans 9,224 square miles. This area makes the county larger in land size than seven U.S. states: Rhode Island, Delaware, Connecticut, Hawaii, New Jersey, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire.
The county hosts one of the largest park systems in the nation, with an estimated 120,000 acres of open space parks that include hundreds of miles of trails, nature centers, and campgrounds. Maricopa County was named after the Maricopa, or Piipaash, Native American Tribe.