The fate of the Raise the Wage Act is unclear after the Senate parliamentarian, its chief rule-enforcer, ruled on February 25 that the provision to increase the minimum wage included in President Joe Biden’s $1.9 trillion economic relief plan does not meet the guidelines required to move forward in the fast-track process known as budget reconciliation. The House elected to leave the proposed increase in the legislation it passed over the weekend but the parliamentarian’s ruling makes it highly unlikely that the minimum-wage hike will remain in the final version of the bill.
Many leading Democrats have vowed to continue the fight for a $15 wage, if necessary through another bill later this year. If successful, an estimated 27 million Americans would get a pay bump, according to the Congressional Budget Office, ending the longest-running freeze on the earnings benchmark since a federal minimum wage was established in 1938. But given heavy criticism from opponents like House Minority leader Mitch McConnell and others, success is by no means assured.
In the meantime, workers in 19 of the 29 states that mandate a higher minimum wage than the federal floor have already gotten a raise for 2021. Increases in these areas took effect on New Year’s Day, ranging from a modest eight-cent raise in Minnesota, which adjusted its minimum wage for inflation, to a far more substantial bump of $1.50 an hour in New Mexico—equal to a raise of $3,120 a year for a full-time worker.
Additionally, 22 of the 44 cities and counties with minimum wages set above that of their state and the federal government, also raised their rates when the ball dropped, according to the Economic Policy Institute.
The wave of minimum-wage raises isn’t over yet. Another six states, as well as more than a dozen cities and counties and the federal district, plan to boost their minimum wage rates later this year.
Here are all 61 places where minimum wage workers are getting a raise this year, plus how much of a bump they can expect, in 2021 as well as the years ahead.
ALASKA
Alaska raised its minimum wage by $0.15 an hour, from $10.19 to $10.34, on January 1 as part of its annual cost-of-living adjustment to the rate.
ARIZONA
The Grand Canyon State also made a $0.15 cost-of-living increase to its minimum wage at the start of this year, giving residents a new rate of $12.15.
One of its cities, Flagstaff, however has its own independent minimum wage set higher than that of the state thanks to a ballot measure passed in 2016, and workers here saw rates jump from $13 an hour to $15 at the start of this year, before hitting $15.50 in 2022.
ARKANSAS
The minimum wage in this southern state went up by $1 an hour on New Year’s Day to $11 as part of a ballot measure passed in 2018.
CALIFORNIA
The state increased its minimum wage from $13 to $14 on January 1.
Additionally, several cities and counties in the Golden State have their own laws mandating an even higher minimum wage. Increases in some of these areas also took effect on January 1, following either city ordinances or annual cost-of-living increases tied to inflation. They are:
Belmont
New minimum wage: $15.90
2020 wage: $15
Cupertino
New minimum wage: $15.65
2020 wage: $15.35
El Cerrito
New minimum wage: $15.61
2020 wage: $15.37
Hayward
New minimum wage: $15
2020 wage: $13
Los Altos
New minimum wage: $15.65
2020 wage: $15.40
Mountain View
New minimum wage: $16.30
2020 wage: $16.05
Novato
New minimum wage: $15.24
2020 wage: $15
Oakland
New minimum wage: $14.36
2020 wage: $14.14
Palo Alto
New minimum wage: $15.65
2020 wage: $15.40
Petaluma
New minimum wage: $15.20
2020 wage: $15
Redwood City
New minimum wage: $15.62
2020 wage: $15.38
Richmond
New minimum wage: $15.21
2020 wage: $15
San Jose
New minimum wage: $15.45
2020 wage: $15.25
San Mateo
New minimum wage: $15.62
2020 wage: $15.38
Santa Clara
New minimum wage: $15.65
2020 wage: $15.40
Sonoma
New minimum wage: $15
2020 wage: $13.50
Sunnyvale
New minimum wage: $16.30
2020 wage: $16.05
Another six California localities with their own independent minimum wage laws will make cost-of-living increases on July 1. The exact amount of the inflation adjustment hasn’t been announced yet but past increases suggest they’re typically in the 40- to 50-cent-an-hour range.
Berkeley
Current minimum wage: $16.07
Last increase: $15.59 to $16.07
Emeryville
Current minimum wage: $16.84
Last increase: $16.30 to $16.84
Fremont
Current minimum wage: $15.00
Last increase: $13.50 to $15.00
Milpitas
Current minimum wage: $15.40
Last increase: $15.00 to $15.40
San Francisco
Current minimum wage: $16.07
Last increase: $15.59 to $16.07
Santa Rosa
Current minimum wage: $15.00
Last increase: $13.00 to $15.00
COLORADO
Colorado began making cost-of-living adjustments to its minimum wage at the start of this year, leading its rate to jump by $0.32 an hour to $12.32.
Denver, the state capital, has its own minimum wage law, which jumped to $14.77 on January 1, up from $12.85 last year. The rate will increase again, to $15.87 an hour, in 2022.
CONNECTICUT
This New England state will bump up its minimum wage by $1 an hour come summer thanks to legislation passed in 2019 that requires the state to mandate a $15 hourly minimum by June 2023.
Current minimum wage: $12
New minimum wage: $13
Date of increase: August 1
Last increase: $11 to $12 on September 1, 2020
FLORIDA
A ballot measure passed at the end of last year will see the Sunshine State gradually raise its minimum wage over the next few years to $15 an hour in 2026. This year the rate jumps $1.44.
Current minimum wage: $8.56
New minimum wage: $10
Date of increase: September 30
Last increase: $8.46 to $8.56 on January 1, 2020
ILLINOIS
The state of Illinois raised its minimum wage to $11 an hour on January 1, up from $10.
Its most prominent city and county have their own rules in place and also have scheduled raises in 2021.
Chicago
Current minimum wage: $14
New minimum wage: $15
Date of increase: July 1
Last increase: $13 to $14 on July 1, 2020
Cook County
Current minimum wage: $13
Planned increase: annual inflation raise
Date of increase: July 1
Last increase: $12 to $13 on July 1, 2020
MAINE
Thanks to a 2016 ballot measure, Maine increases its minimum wage annually to keep pace with inflation. At the start of 2021, it raised the rate by $0.15 an hour to $12.15.
MARYLAND
Maryland raised its minimum wage on New Year’s Day from $11 to $11.75 an hour.
But one of its counties offers an even higher minimum wage to residents and has another $1-an-hour increase scheduled for this summer.
Montgomery County
Current minimum wage: $14
New minimum wage: $15
Date of increase: July 1
Last increase: $13 to $14 on July 1, 2020
MASSACHUSETTS
At the start of this year, the rate jumped $0.75 an hour to $13.50, with additional 75-cent increases scheduled for 2022 and 2023. The goal, as required by a 2018 law change, is to reach $15 an hour by 2023.
MICHIGAN
On January 1, the rate went from $9.65 to $9.87.
In 2022, the minimum wage will cross the $10 mark, hitting $10.10, and continue to gradually increase until it hits $12.05 an hour in 2030.
MINNESOTA
The Land of 10,000 Lakes raised its minimum wage a very modest $0.08 at the start of the year, bringing the new rate to $10.08.
Additionally, one of its Twin Cities, Minneapolis, will be increasing its own minimum wage by $1 an hour this year, with another scheduled raise next year that will bring the rate to $15 in 2022.
Minneapolis
Current minimum wage: $13.25
New minimum wage: $14.25
Date of increase: July 1
Last increase: $12.25 to $13.25 on July 1, 2020
MISSOURI
On New Year’s Day, Missouri’s minimum rose by $0.85 to $10.30 an hour.
Under a ballot measure passed in 2018, the hourly minimum will rise again next year to $11, before hitting $12 an hour on New Year’s Day 2023.
MONTANA
Montana increased its minimum wage by a dime to $8.75 on January 1, under a 2006 ballot measure that calls for annual cost-of-living adjustments.
NEVADA
As part of legislation passed in 2019, Nevada will gradually raise its minimum wage by $0.75 each year until it hits $12 an hour in 2024.
Current minimum wage: $9
New minimum wage: $9.75
Date of increase: July 1
Last increase: $8.25 to $9.00 on July 1, 2020
NEW JERSEY
The Garden State increased its minimum wage to $12 an hour on January 1.
According to legislation passed in 2019, the rate will continue to jump by $1 a year until it hits $15 an hour on January 1, 2024.
NEW MEXICO
New Mexico bumped its state minimum wage up by $1.50 to $10.50 an hour at the start of this year.
The state capital and surrounding county will also modestly increase their separate minimum wage rates by 22 cents next month.
Santa Fe City and Santa Fe County
Current minimum wage: $12.10
New minimum wage: $12.32
Date of increase: March 1
Last increase: $11.80 to $12.10 on March 1, 2020
NEW YORK
The Empire State will bump up its minimum wage next New Year’s Eve as part of a gradual plan to bring the rate to $15 an hour via annual inflation raises.
Current minimum wage: $12.50
Planned increase: annual inflation raise
Date of increase: December 31
Last increase: $11.80 to $12.50 on December 31, 2020
A couple of counties within the state will also raise the minimum wage in their areas by $1 an hour at the same time.
Nassau, Suffolk and Westchester Counties
Current minimum wage: $14
New minimum wage: $15
Date of increase: December 31
Last increase: $13 to $14 on December 31, 2020
OHIO
Ohio raised its minimum wage by a dime to $8.80 an hour, as required by a 2006 state constitutional amendment mandates annual cost-of-living adjustments.
OREGON
Oregon has three different minimum wages, dependent on where one works, with one rate for the area surrounding its biggest city, Portland, a different one for its “non-urban” counties, and a third rate for the remaining counties. All three rates are scheduled to increase this summer.
Portland Urban Growth Boundary
Current minimum wage: $13.25
New minimum wage: $14.50
Date of increase: July 1
Last increase: $12.50 to $13.25 on July 1, 2020
Standard Counties
Current minimum wage: $12
New minimum wage: $12.75
Date of increase: July 1
Last increase: $11.25 to $12.00 on July 1, 2020
Non-Urban Counties (Baker, Coos, Crook, Curry, Douglas, Gilliam, Grant, Harney, Jefferson, Klamath, Lake, Malheur, Morrow, Sherman, Umatilla, Union, Wallowa, and Wheeler)
Current minimum wage: $11.50
New minimum wage: $12
Date of increase: July 1
Last increase: $11 to $11.50 on July 1, 2020
SOUTH DAKOTA
The Mount Rushmore State raised its minimum wage $0.15 an hour on January 1 to $9.45 to keep pace with annual cost-of-living inflation changes.
VERMONT
A legislative change last year saw Vermont raise its minimum wage $0.79 an hour at the start of 2021 to $11.75.
In 2022, the minimum wage will increase again to $12.55 an hour.
VIRGINIA
In 2020, Virginia passed legislation to gradually raise the minimum wage over the next few years with the goal of reaching $15 an hour by 2026. The first of these increases, a $2.25 an hour raise, takes effect this spring.
Current minimum wage: $7.25
New minimum raise: $9.50
Date of increase: May 1
Last increase: 2009
WASHINGTON
The Evergreen State, the first to enact annual inflation adjustments to its minimum wage back in 2001, increased its rate for 2021 to $13.69 an hour, up from $13.50, on January 1.
Washington’s largest city, Seattle, enacted its own higher minimum wage law in 2014, and also raised its rate on January 1 by $0.30 to $16.69 an hour.
WASHINGTON D.C.
The nation’s capital district already pays workers a higher minimum wage than any state, and that rate will increase modestly later this year.
Current minimum wage: $15
Planned increase: annual inflation raise
Date of increase: July 1
Last increase: $14 to $15 on July 1, 2020
