While efforts to raise the federal minimum wage are languishing, 34 states are considering or have taken action to raise their state’s minimum.
Congressional Democrats have been stymied in their effort to raise the federal minimum wage from the current $7.25 to $10.10 an hour over the next 30 months. With 13 states pegging their own minimum wage to the federal government’s, an increase in that rate would also increase the in-state rates.
Meanwhile, the minimum wage in six states will increase between now and the end of the year. Some states saw an increase on January 1.
22 states above the federal level
On June 1, 2014, Delaware will become the 22nd state to have a minimum wage above the federal level when it raises the rate from $7.25 an hour to $7.75. Five more states and the District of Columbia will hike their rates before the end of the year:
- California: From $8.00/hr to $9.00/hr on July 1;
- Washington, D.C.: From $8.25/hr to $9.50/hr on July 1;
- Michigan: From $7.40/hr to $8.15/hr on Sept. 1;
- Minnesota: From $6.15 & $5.25/hr to $8.00 & $6.50/hr on August 1 (rate depends on employer revenue);
- New York: From $8.00/hr to $8.75/hr on Dec. 31.
Four more states — Connecticut, Hawaii, Maryland and West Virginia — will increase their minimum wage on January 1, 2015, with increases coming in other states later that year.
Cities raising minimum wage as well
Another 14 states have or will phase in automatic adjustments to their minimum wage, based on the Consumer Price Index or other measure.
Alaska, Arkansas, South Dakota and Nebraska have ballot measures about raising or setting wage minimums that will go to voters later this year.
Municipalities have also been enacting their own wage floors. Earlier this month, Seattle said it would raise its minimum wage to $15 an hour in stages and at different rates depending on business size. All businesses would pay the minimum by the end of the decade. Other cities that have enacted local wage rates include San Francisco, Santa Fe, N.M., and San Jose , Calif.
A complete list of minimum wage rates and scheduled increases by state and territory is available from the National Conference of State Legislatures.