What is the current minimum wage in the USA?

Question

I think the rate went up recently, but I don't remember the number.

Answer 1

Federal Level Notes

Federal $6.55 The Fair Labor Standards Act sets the federal minimum wage at $6.55 per hour. The Fair Minimum Wage Act of 2007, signed into law on May 25, 2007,[5] will increase the minimum wage over two years:

$7.25 (July 24, 2009)[6]



[edit] State

Note: The following tables can be sorted alphabetically or numerically using the  icon.

State   Level   Notes

Alabama None Federal minimum applies.[7]

Alaska $7.55 Will increase to be at least $1 above federal minimum.[8]

Arizona $6.90 Pursuant to Arizona Proposition 202. This rate will be automatically adjusted annually based on the U.S. Consumer Price Index. This rate increase did not affect student workers in places such as libraries and cafeterias because those positions are given by universities, which are State entities.[9]

Arkansas $6.25  

California $8.00[10] San Francisco $9.36[11]

Colorado $7.02[12] This rate will be automatically adjusted annually based on the U.S. Consumer Price Index. Tipped employees earn $4.00.

Connecticut $7.65 This rate will increase to $8.00 on January 1, 2009 and to $8.25 on January 1, 2010

Delaware $7.15[13] Increasing to $7.25 on July 24, 2009.[1] The proposed Delaware Senate Bill 204 would increase the rate to $7.75 on March 1, 2009 if passed, with a subsequent increase to $8.25 on March 1, 2010.[13]

District of Columbia $7.55 This rate is automatically set at $1 above the Federal minimum wage rate if the District of Columbia rate is lower.

Florida $6.79 Rises with inflation. $3.77 per hour for tipped employees.

Georgia $5.15 Not linked to the federal rate, however the State law excludes from coverage any employment that is subject to the Federal Fair Labor Standards Act when the Federal rate is greater than the State rate.[1] Applicable to employers of 6 or more employees.

Hawaii $7.25  

Idaho $6.55  

Illinois $7.75 The minimum wage will increase by $.25 every year until 2010. $8.00 on July 1, 2009; and $8.25 on July 1, 2010. Employers may pay anyone under the age of 18 $.50 less. Tipped employees earn $4.50 (employers may claim credit for tips, up to 40% of wage[14]).

Indiana $6.55 Increasing to $7.25 on July 25, 2009.[1]

Iowa $7.25[15] Most small retail and service establishments grossing less than 300,000 annually are not required to pay the minimum wage.

Kansas $2.65 Employees not covered by the Federal Fair Labor Standard Act are subject to Kansas minimum wage laws.[16]

Kentucky $6.55 Increasing to $7.25 on July 1, 2009.

Louisiana None Federal minimum applies.

Maine $7.00 Increasing to $7.25 on July 24, 2009.[1]

Maryland $6.55 The minimum wage is automatically replaced with the Federal minimum wage rate if it is higher than the State minimum wage rate.[1] Increasing to $7.25 on July 24, 2009.

Massachusetts $8.00[17] $2.63 for service (tipped) employees, $1.60 for agricultural employees.

Michigan $7.40 ($2.65 for service (tipped) employees, Minors 16-17 years of age may be paid 85% of the minimum hourly wage rate(currently $6.29 per hour). Training wage for new employees ages 16 to 19 of $4.25 per hour for first 90 days of employment.

Minnesota $6.15/$5.25 Large employer (any enterprise whose annual gross volume of sales made or business done is not less than $625.000) -- $6.15. Small employer (any enterprise whose annual gross volume of sales made or business done is less than $625,000) -- $5.25.

Mississippi None Federal minimum applies.

Missouri $6.65 This rate is automatically adjusted annually based on the U.S. Consumer Price Index.

Montana $6.55 This rate is automatically adjusted annually based on the U.S. Consumer Price Index. Tip income may not be applied as an offset to an employee's pay rate. The minimum pay is $4/hour for business with less than $110,000 in annual sales.

Nebraska $6.55 Increasing to $7.25 on July 24, 2009.[18]

Nevada $6.85 Rises with inflation.[19] The minimum wage for employees who receive qualified health benefits from their employers will be at $5.30 per hour and the minimum wage for employees who do not receive health benefits will be at $6.33 per hour.[20]

New Hampshire $6.55 Increasing to $7.25 on September 1, 2008. The minimum wage is automatically replaced with the Federal minimum wage rate if it is higher than the State minimum wage rate.[1]

New Jersey $7.15 Increasing to $7.25 on July 24, 2009.[1]

New Mexico $6.50 Increasing to $7.50 on January 1, 2009. Not linked to the federal rate.[1]

$9.50 in Santa Fe (now covering all employees, since expansion to employers with less than 25 employees, as of January 1, 2008).[3][4]

In late 2008 Santa Fe's minimum wage will rise to $10.50 an hour, it will remain the country's highest minimum wage.



New York $7.15 New York also has a minimum for exempt employees $536.10 /week as of January 1, 2007 and increasing to $7.25 on July 24, 2009.[1]

North Carolina $6.55 Increasing to $7.25 on July 24, 2009.[1]

North Dakota $6.55 Increasing to $7.25  

Answer 2

$6.55/ hr effective as of july 24, 2008 and $7.25/ hr effective as of july 24, 2009

Answer 3

last i heard it was 5.75