New Delhi, Oct. 6 -- Workers in five US states are set to receive higher minimum wages from 1 January 2027, further widening the gap between state-level pay floors and the federal minimum wage of $7.25 an hour.

Washington, California, Connecticut, New Jersey and Michigan are among the states increasing their minimum wages, with Washington set to have the highest statewide rate at $17.73 an hour.

The changes highlight the growing divergence between state and federal wage rules, with several states having minimum wages more than twice the federal floor.

Washington's minimum wage will rise by 60 cents from its current $17.13 to $17.73 an hour. Connecticut will increase its rate from $16.94 to $17.48, while California's wage floor will ris...