State Minimum Wages (2024)

Table of Contents
Summary State Minimum Wages FAQs

Summary

Currently, 34 states, territories and districts have minimum wages above thefederal minimum wageof $7.25 per hour.

Five states have not adopted a state minimum wage: Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina and Tennessee. Two states, Georgia and Wyoming, have a minimum wage below $7.25 per hour. In all seven of these states, the federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour applies.

State Minimum Wages

The table below reflects current state minimum wages in effect as of April 9, 2024, as well as future enacted increases. This table does not reflect industry specific and prevailing wages.

State Minimum Wage Legislation

State

Minimum Wage

Future Enacted
Increases

Other Information

Alabama

$7.25

No state minimum wage law. Defaults to the Federal Fair Labor Standards Act minimum wage.

Alaska

$11.73

Indexed annual increases began Jan. 1, 2017. (2014 ballot measure)

American Samoa

Varies 1

Arizona

$14.35

Indexed annual increases began Jan. 2021. (2016 ballot measure)

Arkansas

$11.00

California

$16.00

Indexed annual increases began Jan. 1, 2023. (2016 legislation)

Colorado

$14.42

Indexed annual increases began Jan. 1, 2021. (2016 ballot measure)

Connecticut

$15.69 2

Indexed annual increases will begin Jan. 1, 2024 (2019 legislation)

Delaware

$13.25

$15 eff. 1-1-25

D.C.

$17.00

Indexed annual increases began July 1, 2021 (2016 ballot measure)

Florida

$12.00

$13 eff. 9-30-24 

$14 eff. 9-30-25 

$15 eff. 9-30-26

Indexed annual increases will resume Sept. 30, 2028. (Constitutional amendment 2004)

Georgia

$7.25

State minimum wage law is $5.15, but defaults to the Federal Fair Labor Standards Act since it is higher.

Guam

$9.25

Hawaii

$14.00

$16 eff. 1-1-26

$18 eff. 1-1-28 

Idaho

$7.25

Illinois

$14.00 3

$15 eff. 1-1-25 4

Indiana

$7.25

Iowa

$7.25

Kansas

$7.25

Kentucky

$7.25

Louisiana

$7.25

No state minimum wage law. Defaults to the Federal Fair Labor Standards Act minimum wage.

Maine

$14.15

Indexed annual increases began Jan 1, 2021 (2016 ballot measure)

Maryland

$15.00

Massachusetts

$15.00 4

Michigan

$10.33

$10.56 eff. 1-1-2025

$10.80 eff. 1-1-2026

$11.04 eff. 1-1-2027

$11.29 eff. 1-1-2028

$11.54 eff. 1-1-2029

$11.79 eff. 1-1-2030

$12.05 eff. 1-1-2031

Minnesota

$10.85/$8.85 5

Indexed annual increases began Jan. 1, 2018. (2014 legislation)

Mississippi

$7.25

No state minimum wage law. Defaults to the Federal Fair Labor Standards Act minimum wage.

Missouri

$12.30 6

Indexed annual increases and decreases began Jan. 1, 2024. (2018 ballot measure)

Montana

$10.30 7

Indexed annual increases began Jan. 1, 2008. (2006 ballot measure)

Nebraska

$12.00

 $13.50 eff. 1-1-25

$15 eff. 1-1-26

Indexed annual increases will begin Jan 1, 2027. (2022 ballot measure)

Nevada

$11.25/$10.25

$12.00 eff. 7-1-24

Removed indexed annual increases in 2022. (2022 ballot measure)

New Hampshire

$7.25

New Jersey

$15.13 8

Indexed annual increases will begin 2025. (2019 legislation)

New Mexico

$12.00

New York

$15.00/16.00 9

North Carolina

$7.25

North Dakota

$7.25

Northern Mariana Islands

$7.25

Ohio

$10.45 10

Indexed annual increases began Jan 1, 2007. (Constitutional amendment 2006)

Oklahoma

$7.25 11

Oregon

$14.20 12

Indexed annual increases began July 1, 2023 (2016 legislation)

Pennsylvania

$7.25

Puerto Rico

$9.50/$5.08 13

 $10.50 eff. 7-1-24

Rhode Island

$14.00

 $15 eff. 1-1-25

South Carolina

$7.25

No state minimum wage law. Defaults to the Federal Fair Labor Standards Act minimum wage.

South Dakota

$11.20

Indexed annual increases began Jan. 1, 2016. (2014 ballot measure.)

Tennessee

$7.25

No state minimum wage law. Defaults to the Federal Fair Labor Standards Act minimum wage.

Texas

$7.25

Utah

$7.25

Vermont

$13.67

Indexed annual increases resumed Jan. 1, 2019. (2014 legislation)

Virgin Islands

$10.50

Virginia

$12.00

 $13.50 eff. 1-1-25

$15 eff. 1-1-26

Indexed annual increases will begin Oct. 1, 2026. (2020 legislation)

Washington

$16.28

Annual indexed increases began Jan. 1, 2020. (2016 ballot measure)

West Virginia

$8.75

Wisconsin

$7.25

Wyoming

$7.25

State minimum wage law is $5.15, but defaults to the Federal Fair Labor Standards Act.

Notes

1American Samoa: The Fair Minimum Wage Act of 2007 (Public Law 110-28) sets minimum wage rates within American Samoa and provides for additional increases in the minimum wage of $0.50 per hour each year on May 25, until reaching the minimum wage generally applicable in the United States. The wage rates are set for particular industries, not for an employee's particular occupation. The rates are minimum rates; an employer may choose to pay an employee at a rate higher than the rate(s) for its industry.

2Connecticut: The Connecticut minimum wage rate automatically increases to 1/2 of 1% above the rate set in the Fair Labor Standards Act if the federal minimum wage rate equals or becomes higher than the State minimum.

3Illinois:Employers with 50 or fewer full-time employees are eligible for a tax credit equal to a certain percentage of the cost of their annual wage increases. Employers are only eligible for the credit if the average wage for employees making $55,000 or less increases over the year. The amount of the credit that can be claimed is as follows: 25% for the 2020 reporting period; 21% for 2021; 17% for 2022; 13% for 2023; 9% for 2024; 5%percent for 2025; 5% for 2026; 5% for 2027, but only for employers with no more than five employees.

4 TheMassachusettsminimum wage rate automatically increases to 10 cents above the rate set in the Fair Labor Standards Act if the federal minimum wage equals or becomes higher than the State minimum.

5Minnesota: With the passage of H.B. 2091 (2014), the annual sales volume threshold was reduced to $500,000. For large employers, with an annual sales volume of $500,000 or more, the minimum wage is currently $9.50; for small employers, those with an annual sales volume of less than $500,000, the minimum wage is $7.75.

6Missouri:- In addition to the exemption for federally covered employment, the law exempts, among others, employees of a retail or service business with gross annual sales or business done of less than $500,000.

7Montana: The $4.00 rate applies to businesses with gross annual sales of $110,000 or less; $8.15 applies to all others.

8New Jersey:For small employers (six employees or fewer), the schedule of increases is as follows: $13.50 eff. 1-1-24; $14.30 eff. 1-1-25; $15.00 eff. 1-1-26.

9New York:The new minimum wage varies across the state based on geographical location and, in New York City, employer size.

Location

Minimum Wage as of 12/31/2021*, ***

Minimum Wage as of 12/31/2022*, ***

Tipped Service Employees**

 Tipped Food Service Workers**

New York City

$15.00

$15.00

$12.50 Cash Wage
$2.50 Tip Credit

$10.00 Cash Wage
$5.00 Tip Credit

Long Island & Westchester

$15.00

$15.00

$12.50 Cash Wage
$2.50 Tip Credit

$10.00 Cash Wage
$5.00 Tip Credit

Remainder of New York State 

$13.20*

$14.20*

As of 12/31/2021

$11.00 Cash Wage
$2.20 Tip Credit

As of 12/31/2022

$11.85 Cash Wage
$2.35 Tip Credit

As of 12/31/2021

$8.80 Cash Wage
$4.40 Tip Credit

As of 12/31/2022

$9.45 Cash Wage
$4.75 Tip Credit

10Ohio: $7:25 for employers grossing $299,000 or less

11Oklahoma: Employers of 10 or more full-time employees at any one location and employers with annual gross sales over $100,000 irrespective of number of full-time employees are subject to federal minimum wage; all others are subject to state minimum wage of $2.00 (OK ST T. 40 § 197.5).

12Oregon:In addition to the new standard minimum wage rate, SB 1532 sets out a higher rate for employers located in the urban growth boundary, and a lower rate for employers located in nonurban counties. Their respective planned increases are below.

Oregon Minimum Wage

Year

Portland Metro

Nonurban Counties

July 1, 2016

$9.75

$9.50

July 1, 2017

$11.25

$10

July 1, 2018

$12

$10.50

July 1, 2019

$12.50

$11

July 1, 2020

$13.25

$11.50

July 1, 2021

$14

$12

July 1, 2022

$14.75

$12.50

July 1, 2023

$1.25 over standard minimum wage

$1 below standard minimum wage

13Puerto Rico: Employers covered by the Federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) are subject to the Federal minimum wage of $7.25. Employers not covered by the FLSA will be subject to a minimum wage that is at least 70% of the federal minimum wage or the applicable mandatory decree rate of $5.08, whichever is higher. The Secretary of Labor and Human Resources may authorize a rate based on a lower percentage for any employer who can show that implementation of the 70% rate would substantially curtail employment in that business.

Other Exceptions

  • Missouri, Oklahoma, Texas, Puerto Rico, UtahandVirginiaexclude from coverage any employment that is subject to the Federal Fair Labor Standards Act.
  • Hawaii, KansasandMichiganexclude from coverage any employment that is subject to the Federal Fair Labor Standards Act, if the State wage is higher than the Federal wage.
  • TheGeorgiastate minimum wage is $5.15. Employees covered under the federal Fair Labor Standards Act are subject to the federal minimum wage of $7.25, but those not covered under the FLSA may be paid the state minimum wage of $5.15.
State Minimum Wages (2024)

FAQs

What is the answer to the minimum wage? ›

The federal minimum wage is $7.25 per hour. This rate applies to covered nonexempt workers. The minimum wage for employees who receive tips is $2.13 per hour. The amount of tips plus the $2.13 must reach at least $7.25 per hour.

Why is the minimum wage not enough? ›

California's $16 hourly minimum wage may be much higher than a “poverty wage” by federal standards, but high housing costs still make it difficult for low-wage workers to make ends meet in the state, according to a new report by the nonpartisan Legislative Analyst's Office.

What is the best argument for minimum wage? ›

The primary argument advanced in favor of raising the minimum wage is that higher earnings would improve the overall standard of living for minimum wage workers by providing them with a more appropriate income level to handle the cost of living increases.

What happens if a state's minimum wage is lower than the federal? ›

If the state or local minimum wage is lower than the federal minimum wage, you must pay your employees at least the federal minimum wage rate.

What is the solution to minimum wage? ›

Indexing the minimum wage to inflation means adjusting it automatically to keep pace with the rising cost of living so that workers do not lose purchasing power each year. Nineteen states plus the District of Columbia have adopted laws to index their minimum wages to rise automatically with the cost of living.

What is the real reason for the minimum wage? ›

The minimum wage was designed to create a minimum standard of living to protect the health and well-being of employees.

What are 3 pros of minimum wage? ›

It could help them to move out of poverty and keep up with inflation. Some economists argue that other pros of raising the minimum wage could include increased consumer spending, reduced government assistance (and increased tax revenue), and stronger employee retention and morale.

What state has the highest minimum wage? ›

District of Columbia

Should the US raise the minimum wage? ›

Economists have also linked higher wages to better physical and mental health and reduced “decision fatigue,” leading to higher productivity. Raising the minimum wage reduces turnover. Higher wages lead to lower employee turnover, resulting in reduced recruiting and training costs.

Can states ignore federal minimum wage? ›

In the United States, some states have a minimum wage that is higher than the federal minimum wage. Is this legal? Yes it is 100% legal. Now if you were asking if the state minimum wage was *LOWER* then the Federal Minimum Wage, that would be illegal.

Was minimum wage ever a living wage? ›

Though often considered the baseline of livable wages, it is important to note that even when it was first created, it did not represent a true living wage. In 1938, the federal minimum wage was set at 25 cents per hour and rose periodically over the following 71 years.

What should the minimum wage be in 2025? ›

The Raise the Wage Act of 2021 (HR 603) would increase the federal minimum wage in five annual steps, from $7.25 to $15 in 2025, with annual increases thereafter indexed to the median wage.

What are the arguments for the $15 minimum wage? ›

A $15 minimum wage would begin to reverse decades of growing pay inequality between the lowest-paid workers and the middle class. For example, failure to adequately increase the minimum wage accounts for 48 percent of the increase in inequality between women at the middle and bottom of the wage distribution since 1979.

What will be the minimum wage in 2030? ›

Under the default policy based on the Raise the Wage Act of 2023, the subminimum hourly wage for tipped workers is $6.00 in 2024, $8.00 in 2025, $10.00 in 2026, $12.00 in 2027, $13.50 in 2028, $15.00 in 2029, and $17.00 in 2030; it equals the federal minimum wage thereafter.

Why do we need to raise the minimum wage? ›

Raising the federal minimum wage will also stimulate consumer spending, help businesses' bottom lines, and grow the economy. A modest increase would improve worker productivity, and reduce employee turnover and absenteeism. It would also boost the overall economy by generating increased consumer demand.

Who actually pays minimum wage? ›

Instead, California employers must compensate their employees the minimum wage for each hour an employee must be at work, even if the piece-rate work for some of those hours results in pay that is higher than minimum wage for those hours.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Neely Ledner

Last Updated:

Views: 5722

Rating: 4.1 / 5 (62 voted)

Reviews: 93% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Neely Ledner

Birthday: 1998-06-09

Address: 443 Barrows Terrace, New Jodyberg, CO 57462-5329

Phone: +2433516856029

Job: Central Legal Facilitator

Hobby: Backpacking, Jogging, Magic, Driving, Macrame, Embroidery, Foraging

Introduction: My name is Neely Ledner, I am a bright, determined, beautiful, adventurous, adventurous, spotless, calm person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.