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Posted on 07/01/2025 1:03:52 PM PDT by Red Badger
New state and local increases are boosting paychecks in Alaska, California, Oregon, Washington, D.C., and other locations this week.
Workers in about 15 locations nationwide are about to receive a boost in their paychecks, thanks to minimum wage increases that went into effect this week around the country. On Tuesday, July 1, minimum wage increases went into effect in Alaska, Oregon, and Washington D.C. Additionally, 12 cities, including Chicago and Los Angeles, are doing the same.
The minimum wage hasn’t changed on a federal level since 2009. It remains stuck at $7.25. However, local governments have been moving the needle over the years, which is good news for workers, given the cost of living is at an all-time high.
Previously, on January 1, 21 states increased their minimum wage, impacting some 9.2 million workers. The July 1 wage increase isn’t quite so far-reaching, but it will still impact more than 880,000 workers, according to a recent report from the Economic Policy Institute. Per the report, the wage bump will collectively raise those workers’ earnings by around $397 million.
Washington, D.C., increased its minimum wage to $17.95, from $17.50. And statewide, Oregon went from $14.70 to $15.05, and Alaska, from $11.91 to $13.
In other areas of the country, changes vary depending on the city or county. And in some states, the minimum wage is set to increase little by little. In Alaska, which just upped its rate by $1.09 (from $11.91 to $13), it will increase until it reaches $15 in 2027.
Some wage increases depend on the size of companies, too. In Maryland’s Montgomery County, employers with 10 or fewer employees now have to pay them $15.50 an hour, up from $15. If companies have 11 to 50 employees, the rate is $16, up from $15.50. And if there are 51 or more employees, the rate is $17.65, up from $17.15.
Another notable point is that some locations increased not only the minimum wage, but also the minimum wage for tipped workers (those who rely mostly on tips and a traditionally low hourly wage). In Chicago, the minimum wage went from $16.20 to $16.60. The rate for tipped workers went from $11.20 to $12.62.
Currently, there are only a handful of locations with minimum wages over $20. The state of California pays fast-food workers $20 an hour, and Seattle has a minimum wage of $20.67. Now, the cities of Tukwila and Everett, Washington, have joined the over-$20-an-hour club. In Tukwila, employers with 15 to 500 workers will now pay minimum-wage employees an hourly rate of $21.10—up a full dollar from $20.10. In Everett, employers with more than 500 employees will pay a minimum rate of $20.24, up from $16.66.
For a full list, as well as to see other minimum wage increases set to hit in 2025, check out the National Employment Law Project’s “Raises From Coast to Coast in 2025” report. Find it here.
https://www.nelp.org/insights-research/raises-from-coast-to-coast-in-2025/
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more inflation coming with it.
“””However, local governments have been moving the needle over the years, which is good news for workers, given the cost of living is at an all-time high. “””
I wonder if they can figure out why everything costs so much.
Watch your tipping...tipping was a way to reward good service for workers who didn’t make much..now,they make a lot more...I am at least cutting back to 15%.
No word on how many people will be laid off, or have their hours cut.
The state of California pays fast-food workers $20 an hour
Kalifornia pays?? The employers pay, which is why so many people have been laid off in Kalifornia. Kiosks and touch pads have replaced the humans.
In all of this, the individual person learns and lives the real minimum wage: $0.00 per hour.
Our low-wage workers have been brutally abused since the ‘80s with a flood of illegals. There’s still a lot of room for their wages to grow in order for us to get back to the society we had and they deserve.
Agreed. Of course if the jobs don’t go away because Trump has deported a bunch of illegals, the Dims will lyingly give credit to their minimum wage hikes.
After taxes and all the other government gimmies, $18 per hour comes to about 525 a week. $2100 a month? I don't know about other venues, but in the southwest U.S. that maybe just pays the rent. Throw in utilities, insurance, car payments, clothing, health, repairs and food?
That's an ugly picture.
Your post is spot on. I would add h-1b did the same at the other end too.
Fast food used to be the exclusive domain of teenagers, part-time, living at home, after school.
It was never meant to be a ‘career’ choice...........
Wages have been stagnant for decades. It’s no secret. No one told you?
Why only $17.95 per hour? If they really want to make everyone rich, they need to raise it to $100 per hour.
My retirement check increased by $28 per month beginning today. yippee.
Dinner at McDonald’s!....................
Where’s the ‘Spit Nozzle’?.................
“Dinner at McDonald’s!....................”
For one!
Why do you think greedy employers in the U.S. hired illegal aliens by the millions? Low wages more profit for them. They helped drive all of this.
They can get $1,000 in food stamps, free health care, etc. Do you?
agreed and true, but people need to understand that if you start paying Mcdonalds workers $20 a hour, your big mack is going to be a lot more expensive.
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