The U.S. Congress recently raised the minimum wage from $5.15 to $5.85. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, in states “where an employee is subject to both the state and federal minimum wage laws, the employee is entitled to the higher of the two minimum wages.” The state minimum wages throughout the U.S. vary widely. For example, the Virginia minimum wage is $5.85 because the state has chosen to adopt the federal minimum wage as its own. In contrast, the Ohio minimum wage is $6.85. A number of states have chosen, like Ohio, to raise the minimum wage above the required federal minimum wage.
The newest federal law regarding minimum wage decrees that the minimum wage will be gradually raised over the next two years to over $7.00. Check with your local state representative to see whether your state will raise the minimum wage above the new federal minimum wage.
The Department of Labor provides information on state minimum wages. In cases where the federal and state laws differ, the higher wage applies.
| |
State Minimum Wage (As of July 2007) |
|
| Alabama |
None |
|
| Alaska |
$7.15 |
|
| Arizona |
$6.75 |
|
| Arkansas |
$6.25 |
|
| California |
$7.50 |
$8.00 effective 1/1/08 |
| Colorado |
$6.85 |
|
| Connecticut |
$7.65 |
|
| Delaware |
$6.65 |
$7.15 effective 1/1/08 |
| DC |
$7.00 |
|
| Florida |
$6.67 |
|
| Georgia |
$5.15 |
|
| Hawaii |
$7.25 |
|
| Idaho |
$5.15 |
|
| Illinois |
$7.50 |
Increasing by $.25 each year until $8.25 7/01/10 |
| Indiana |
$5.15 |
|
| Iowa |
$6.20 |
|
| Kansas |
$2.65 |
|
| Kentucky |
$5.15 |
|
| Louisiana |
None |
|
| Maine |
$6.75 |
$7.00 effective 10/01/2007 |
| Maryland |
$6.15 |
|
| Massachuttes |
$7.50 |
|
| Michigan |
$7.15 |
$7.40 effective 10/01/2007 |
| Minnesota |
$6.15 large employer |
$5.25 small employer |
| Mississippi |
None |
|
| Missouri |
$6.50 |
|
| Montana |
$6.15 |
$4.00 very small employer |
| Nebraska |
$5.15 |
|
| Nevada |
$6.15 |
|
| New Hampshire |
$5.15 |
|
| New Jersey |
$7.15 |
|
| New Mexico |
$5.15 |
|
| New York |
$7.15 |
|
| North Carolina |
$6.15 |
|
| North Dakota |
$5.15 |
|
| Ohio |
$6.85 |
|
| Oklahoma |
$5.15 |
$2.00 very small employer |
| Oregon |
$7.80 |
|
| Pennsylvania |
$7.15 |
|
| Rhode Island |
$7.40 |
|
| South Carolina |
None |
|
| South Dakota |
$5.15 |
|
| Tennessee |
None |
|
| Texas |
$5.15 |
|
| Utah |
$5.15 |
|
| Vermont |
$7.53 |
|
| Virginia |
$5.15 |
|
| Washington |
$7.93 |
|
| West Virginia |
$6.55 |
$7.25 effective 7/1/2008 |
| Wisconsin |
$6.50 |
|
| Wyoming |
$5.15 |
|
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