Minimum-wage laws around the U.S. are a combination of federal and state legislation. On Thursday, the federal minimum wage rose to $6.55 per hour, but the change only affects workers in 26 states and Washington, D.C..

Thursday's increase is the third of three annual increases mandated by the Fair Minimum Wage Act of 2007. In July 2009, the federal minimum will rise again to $7.25 per hour.

The following 26 states had their minimum wages rise to $6.55:

Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming.

The remaining 24 states already have state minimum wages set above $6.55 per hour.