Minimum wage hikes take effect in multiple states
The new year brought with it higher minimum wages in 18 states and about 20 localities.
Many of the wage hikes are being done in phased-in steps over multiple years. The minimum wage in Washington State, for example, rose to $11.50 an hour, up 50 cents and the highest statewide minimum in the nation. Over the next three years, the wage will rise, to an eventual $13.50 an hour by 2020. Arizona’s minimum wage rose 50 cents on Jan. 1, followed by another 50 cents in 2019 and $1 in 2020, part of a four-year process to boost the base salary for to $12 an hour by 2020.
In addition, California, Colorado, Hawaii, New York, Rhode Island and Vermont also their minimum wages increase by at least 50 cents an hour. Smaller increases took effect in Alaska, Florida, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, New Jersey, Ohio and South Dakota. (For more details, see list at end of story.)
About 20 cities also saw significant increases in the minimum wage, including many localities (San Jose, Palo Alto, Sunneyvale, and Cupertino to name buy a few) in the Silicon Valley. Minimum wages also rose in Seattle, Minneapolis, Albuquerque and Flagstaff, Ariz.
Supporters of a higher minimum wage have started to circulate petitions in Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri and Ohio, in hopes of securing a spot on the 2018 ballot, according to a report by The Hill. Legislatures in Massachusetts and Connecticut are likely to consider minimum wage hikes also.
Here are the states with new minimum wages, according to the Economic Policy Institute, an independent, nonprofit think tank that, among other items, tracks minimum wage legislation:
• Alaska: $9.84, $.04 increase
• Arizona: $10.50, $.50 increase
• California: $11.00, $.50 increase
• Colorado: $10.20, $.90 increase
• Florida: $8.25, $.15 increase
• Hawaii: $10.10, $.85 increase
• Maine: $10.00, $1.00 increase
• Michigan: $9.25, $.35 increase
• Minnesota: $9.65, $.15 increase
• Missouri: $7.85, $.15 increase
• Montana: $8.30, $.15 increase
• New Jersey: $8.60, $.16 increase
• New York: $10.40, $.70 increase
• Ohio: $8.30, $.15 increase
• Rhode Island: $10.10, $.50 increase
• South Dakota: $8.85, $.20 increase
• Vermont: $10.50, $.50 increase
• Washington: $11.50, $.50 increase
Many of the wage hikes are being done in phased-in steps over multiple years. The minimum wage in Washington State, for example, rose to $11.50 an hour, up 50 cents and the highest statewide minimum in the nation. Over the next three years, the wage will rise, to an eventual $13.50 an hour by 2020. Arizona’s minimum wage rose 50 cents on Jan. 1, followed by another 50 cents in 2019 and $1 in 2020, part of a four-year process to boost the base salary for to $12 an hour by 2020.
In addition, California, Colorado, Hawaii, New York, Rhode Island and Vermont also their minimum wages increase by at least 50 cents an hour. Smaller increases took effect in Alaska, Florida, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, New Jersey, Ohio and South Dakota. (For more details, see list at end of story.)
About 20 cities also saw significant increases in the minimum wage, including many localities (San Jose, Palo Alto, Sunneyvale, and Cupertino to name buy a few) in the Silicon Valley. Minimum wages also rose in Seattle, Minneapolis, Albuquerque and Flagstaff, Ariz.
Supporters of a higher minimum wage have started to circulate petitions in Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri and Ohio, in hopes of securing a spot on the 2018 ballot, according to a report by The Hill. Legislatures in Massachusetts and Connecticut are likely to consider minimum wage hikes also.
Here are the states with new minimum wages, according to the Economic Policy Institute, an independent, nonprofit think tank that, among other items, tracks minimum wage legislation:
• Alaska: $9.84, $.04 increase
• Arizona: $10.50, $.50 increase
• California: $11.00, $.50 increase
• Colorado: $10.20, $.90 increase
• Florida: $8.25, $.15 increase
• Hawaii: $10.10, $.85 increase
• Maine: $10.00, $1.00 increase
• Michigan: $9.25, $.35 increase
• Minnesota: $9.65, $.15 increase
• Missouri: $7.85, $.15 increase
• Montana: $8.30, $.15 increase
• New Jersey: $8.60, $.16 increase
• New York: $10.40, $.70 increase
• Ohio: $8.30, $.15 increase
• Rhode Island: $10.10, $.50 increase
• South Dakota: $8.85, $.20 increase
• Vermont: $10.50, $.50 increase
• Washington: $11.50, $.50 increase