It’s been more than a decade since the federal minimum wage was increased. First enacted by Congress in 1938 at 25 cents per hour, the minimum wage last received a boost in 2009 when it went from $6.55 to $7.25.
Despite calls to institute a $15-per-hour minimum wage — which is already paid by some major employers — the national minimum wage seems unlikely to change in 2022.
While the federal minimum wage has been stagnant for more than a decade, many states have enacted their own, higher minimum wage requirements. More than half of states have a minimum wage that is greater than the federal one, and workers in 25 states will see that wage increase further in 2022.
A handful of states either have no minimum wage or one that is below the federal level. In those places, any employer subject to the Fair Labor Standards Act — which includes public agencies, health care facilities, schools and businesses with annual gross revenues of at least $500,000 — must comply with federal wage requirements.
Curious where your state stands? Keep reading to see the current minimum wage in every state and the District of Columbia, as well as whether that number will be going up in 2022. Data comes from Paycor, a human resources and payroll service provider.
1. Alabama
2022 minimum wage: $7.25
2021 minimum wage: $7.25
Alabama is among the states that have no state minimum wage laws, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. So employers that are subject to the federal Fair Labor Standards Act must pay the federal minimum wage, which is currently $7.25 per hour.
2. Alaska
2022 minimum wage: $10.34
2021 minimum wage: $10.34
3. Arizona
2022 minimum wage: $12.80
2021 minimum wage: $12.15
4. Arkansas
2022 minimum wage: $11.00
2021 minimum wage: $11.00
5. California
2022 minimum wage: $15.00
2021 minimum wage: $14.00
California is the first state in the nation to reach a $15 minimum wage and joins the District of Columbia, which hit this milestone in 2020. However, only businesses with 26 or more employees need to pay $15 per hour in 2022. Smaller businesses can pay $14 per hour. Many cities in the state also have their own higher minimum wage requirements.
6. Colorado
2022 minimum wage: $12.56
2021 minimum wage: $12.32
7. Connecticut
2022 minimum wage: $14.00 (effective July 1, 2022)
2021 minimum wage: $13.00
8. Delaware
2022 minimum wage: $10.50
2021 minimum wage: $9.25
9. Washington, D.C.
2022 minimum wage: $15.20
2021 minimum wage: $15.20
10. Florida
2022 minimum wage: $11.00 (effective Sept. 30, 2022)
2021 minimum wage: $10.00
11. Georgia
2022 minimum wage: $5.15
2021 minimum wage: $5.15
Although Georgia’s state minimum wage is $5.15, employers subject to the Fair Labor Standards Act must pay the federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour.
12. Hawaii
2022 minimum wage: $10.10
2021 minimum wage: $10.10
13. Idaho
2022 minimum wage: $7.25
2021 minimum wage: $7.25
14. Illinois
2022 minimum wage: $12.00
2021 minimum wage: $11.00
15. Indiana
2022 minimum wage: $7.25
2021 minimum wage: $7.25
16. Iowa
2022 minimum wage: $7.25
2021 minimum wage: $7.25
17. Kansas
2022 minimum wage: $7.25
2021 minimum wage: $7.25
18. Kentucky
2022 minimum wage: $7.25
2021 minimum wage: $7.25
19. Louisiana
2022 minimum wage: $7.25
2021 minimum wage: $7.25
Louisiana is among the states that have no state minimum wage laws, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. So employers that are subject to the federal Fair Labor Standards Act must pay the federal minimum wage, which is currently $7.25 per hour.
20. Maine
2022 minimum wage: $12.75
2021 minimum wage: $12.15
21. Maryland
2022 minimum wage: $12.50
2021 minimum wage: $11.75
Only businesses with 15 or more employees need to pay $12.50 per hour in 2022. Smaller businesses can pay $12.20 per hour.
22. Massachusetts
2022 minimum wage: $14.25
2021 minimum wage: $13.50
23. Michigan
2022 minimum wage: $9.87
2021 minimum wage: $9.65
24. Minnesota
2022 minimum wage: $10.33
2021 minimum wage: $10.08
Only large employers with annual gross revenues of at least $500,000 need to pay $10.33 per hour. The minimum wage for smaller businesses is $8.42 per hour.
25. Mississippi
2022 minimum wage: $7.25
2021 minimum wage: $7.25
Mississippi is among the states that have no state minimum wage laws, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. So employers that are subject to the federal Fair Labor Standards Act must pay the federal minimum wage, which is currently $7.25 per hour.
26. Missouri
2022 minimum wage: $11.15
2021 minimum wage: $10.30
27. Montana
2022 minimum wage: $9.20
2021 minimum wage: $8.75
28. Nebraska
2022 minimum wage: $9.00
2021 minimum wage: $9.00
29. Nevada
2022 minimum wage: $9.50 (effective July 1, 2022)
2021 minimum wage: $8.75
Nevada employees who are not offered health insurance must be paid a minimum of $10.50 per hour.
30. New Hampshire
2022 minimum wage: $7.25
2021 minimum wage: $7.25
31. New Jersey
2022 minimum wage: $13.00
2021 minimum wage: $12.00
Only businesses that are non-seasonal and have six or more employees need to pay $13 per hour in 2022. Seasonal and smaller businesses can pay $11.90 per hour.
32. New Mexico
2022 minimum wage: $11.50
2021 minimum wage: $10.50
33. New York
2022 minimum wage: $13.20
2021 minimum wage: $12.50
Some cities in the state have their own higher minimum wage requirements.
34. North Carolina
2022 minimum wage: $7.25
2021 minimum wage: $7.25
35. North Dakota
2022 minimum wage: $7.25
2021 minimum wage: $7.25
36. Ohio
2022 minimum wage: $9.30
2021 minimum wage: $8.80
37. Oklahoma
2022 minimum wage: $7.25
2021 minimum wage: $7.25
38. Oregon
2022 minimum wage: $13.50 (effective July 1, 2022)
2021 minimum wage: $12.75
The metro Portland area has a minimum wage of $14 per hour while employers in nonurban counties can pay $12.50 an hour.
39. Pennsylvania
2022 minimum wage: $7.25
2021 minimum wage: $7.25
40. Rhode Island
2022 minimum wage: $12.25
2021 minimum wage: $11.50
41. South Carolina
2022 minimum wage: $7.25
2021 minimum wage: $7.25
South Carolina is among the states that have no state minimum wage laws, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. So employers that are subject to the federal Fair Labor Standards Act must pay the federal minimum wage, which is currently $7.25 per hour.
42. South Dakota
2022 minimum wage: $9.95
2021 minimum wage: $9.45
43. Tennessee
2022 minimum wage: $7.25
2021 minimum wage: $7.25
Tennessee is among the states that have no state minimum wage laws, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. So employers that are subject to the federal Fair Labor Standards Act must pay the federal minimum wage, which is currently $7.25 per hour.
44. Texas
2022 minimum wage: $7.25
2021 minimum wage: $7.25
45. Utah
2022 minimum wage: $7.25
2021 minimum wage: $7.25
46. Vermont
2022 minimum wage: $12.55
2021 minimum wage: $11.75
47. Virginia
2022 minimum wage: $11.00
2021 minimum wage: $9.50
48. Washington
2022 minimum wage: $14.49
2021 minimum wage: $13.69
49. West Virginia
2022 minimum wage: $8.75
2021 minimum wage: $8.75
50. Wisconsin
2022 minimum wage: $7.25
2021 minimum wage: $7.25
51. Wyoming
2022 minimum wage: $5.15
2021 minimum wage: $5.15
Although Wyoming’s state minimum wage is $5.15, employers subject to the Fair Labor Standards Act must pay the federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour.
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