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 recent calls to institute a $15-per-hour minimum wage — and some major employers already as much — the national minimum wage seems unlikely to change in 2021 either.
While the federal minimum wage has been stagnant for 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 20 states will see the wage increase further in 2021.
A handful of states either have no minimum wage or one that is below the federal level. In those areas, 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 the new year. Data comes from Paycor, a human resources and payroll service provider.
1. Alabama
2021 minimum wage: $7.25
2020 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
2021 minimum wage: $10.34
2020 minimum wage: $10.19
3. Arizona
2021 minimum wage: $12.15
2020 minimum wage: $12.00
4. Arkansas
2021 minimum wage: $11.00
2020 minimum wage: $10.00
5. California
2021 minimum wage: $14.00
2020 minimum wage: $13.00
Only businesses with 26 or more employees need to pay $14 per hour in 2021. Smaller businesses can pay $13 per hour. Many cities in the state also have their own higher minimum wage requirements.
6. Colorado
2021 minimum wage: $12.32
2020 minimum wage: $12.00
7. Connecticut
2021 minimum wage: $13.00 (effective Aug. 1, 2021)
2020 minimum wage: $12.00
8. Delaware
2021 minimum wage: $10.25
2020 minimum wage: $9.25
9. Washington, D.C.
2021 minimum wage: $15.00
2020 minimum wage: $15.00
10. Florida
2021 minimum wage: $10.00 (effective Sept. 30, 2021)
2020 minimum wage: $8.56
11. Georgia
2021 minimum wage: $5.15
2020 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
2021 minimum wage: $10.10
2020 minimum wage: $10.10
13. Idaho
2021 minimum wage: $7.25
2020 minimum wage: $7.25
14. Illinois
2021 minimum wage: $11.00
2020 minimum wage: $10.00
15. Indiana
2021 minimum wage: $7.25
2020 minimum wage: $7.25
16. Iowa
2021 minimum wage: $7.25
2020 minimum wage: $7.25
17. Kansas
2021 minimum wage: $7.25
2020 minimum wage: $7.25
18. Kentucky
2021 minimum wage: $7.25
2020 minimum wage: $7.25
19. Louisiana
2021 minimum wage: $7.25
2020 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
2021 minimum wage: $12.15
2020 minimum wage: $12.00
21. Maryland
2021 minimum wage: $11.75
2020 minimum wage: $11.00
Only businesses with 15 or more employees need to pay $11.75 per hour in 2021. Smaller businesses can pay $11.60 per hour.
22. Massachusetts
2021 minimum wage: $13.50
2020 minimum wage: $12.75
23. Michigan
2021 minimum wage: $9.65
2020 minimum wage: $9.65
24. Minnesota
2021 minimum wage: $10.08
2020 minimum wage: $10.00
Only large employers with annual gross revenues of at least $500,000 need to pay $10.08 per hour. The minimum wage for smaller businesses is $8.21 per hour.
25. Mississippi
2021 minimum wage: $7.25
2020 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
2021 minimum wage: $10.30
2020 minimum wage: $9.45
27. Montana
2021 minimum wage: $8.75
2020 minimum wage: $8.65
28. Nebraska
2021 minimum wage: $9.00
2020 minimum wage: $9.00
29. Nevada
2021 minimum wage: $8.75 (effective July 1, 2021)
2020 minimum wage: $8.00
Nevada employees who are not offered health insurance must be paid a minimum of $9.75 per hour.
30. New Hampshire
2021 minimum wage: $7.25
2020 minimum wage: $7.25
31. New Jersey
2021 minimum wage: $12.00
2020 minimum wage: $11.00
Only businesses that are non-seasonal and have six or more employees need to pay $12 per hour in 2021. Seasonal and smaller businesses can pay $11.00 per hour.
32. New Mexico
2021 minimum wage: $10.50
2020 minimum wage: $9.00
33. New York
2021 minimum wage: $12.50
2020 minimum wage: $11.80
Some cities in the state have their own higher minimum wage requirements.
34. North Carolina
2021 minimum wage: $7.25
2020 minimum wage: $7.25
35. North Dakota
2021 minimum wage: $7.25
2020 minimum wage: $7.25
36. Ohio
2021 minimum wage: $8.80
2020 minimum wage: $8.70
37. Oklahoma
2021 minimum wage: $7.25
2020 minimum wage: $7.25
38. Oregon
2021 minimum wage: $12.75 (effective July 1, 2021)
2020 minimum wage: $12.00
39. Pennsylvania
2021 minimum wage: $7.25
2020 minimum wage: $7.25
40. Rhode Island
2021 minimum wage: $11.50
2020 minimum wage: $10.50
41. South Carolina
2021 minimum wage: $7.25
2020 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
2021 minimum wage: $9.45
2020 minimum wage: $9.30
43. Tennessee
2021 minimum wage: $7.25
2020 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
2021 minimum wage: $7.25
2020 minimum wage: $7.25
45. Utah
2021 minimum wage: $7.25
2020 minimum wage: $7.25
46. Vermont
2021 minimum wage: $11.75
2020 minimum wage: $10.96
47. Virginia
2021 minimum wage: $9.50
2020 minimum wage: $7.25
48. Washington
2021 minimum wage: $13.69
2020 minimum wage: $13.50
49. West Virginia
2021 minimum wage: $8.75
2020 minimum wage: $8.75
50. Wisconsin
2021 minimum wage: $7.25
2020 minimum wage: $7.25
51. Wyoming
2021 minimum wage: $5.15
2020 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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