Minimum wage workers in some of the country's largest cities and across Alaska and Oregon are about to get a midyear raise.
Laws at the city, county and state levels mandate dozens of minimum wage increases taking effect July 1 (Wednesday), boosting the paychecks of hundreds of thousands of Americans.
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Some of the changes are small increases stemming from inflation adjustments or staggered policy hikes. Still, it makes a difference. The federal minimum wage has been held at $7.25 per hour for 17 years, so state and local wage floors are often the most meaningful minimum wage protections workers have.
Passing a minimum wage increase is always a political battle, and the resistance to these laws remains strong in parts of the country.
The most recent example: Voters in Oklahoma rejected a ballot question earlier this month that would have raised the minimum wage to $15 per hour over several years. The Sooner State remains one of the 20 states that do not have a minimum wage above the federal level.
Critics of higher minimum wages argue they are unfriendly to businesses and can threaten some entry-level jobs. But in cities from Los Angeles to Washington, D.C., that are raising the minimum wage this week, lawmakers and labor groups argue that these increases are necessary to ensure livable wages for residents.
Here's where the minimum wage is about to go up:
Alaska
The minimum wage in Alaska is rising to $14 per hour on Wednesday, part of a three-step jump to $15. After the next $1 increase, effective July 1, 2027, Alaska's minimum wage will be indexed to inflation.
California (select cities)
California has some of the highest and most complex minimum wage laws in the country.
The default statewide minimum wage of $16.90 per hour is not changing right now, but inflation adjustments are taking effect in 10 cities (plus Los Angeles County). Some healthcare workers will also see higher minimum wages statewide under SB 525.
These cities are increasing their minimum wages on Wednesday to the following hourly rates:
- Alameda: $17.76
- Berkeley: $19.61
- Emeryville: $20.34
- Fremont: $18.05
- Los Angeles: $18.42
- Los Angeles County: $18.47
- Malibu: $17.91
- Milpitas: $18.50
- Pasadena: $18.57
- San Francisco: $19.61
- Santa Monica: $18.47
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Chicago
The minimum wage is about to climb in Chicago, where the city's wage floor is indexed to the consumer price index. A 45-cent increase is scheduled to take effect Wednesday, which will put the minimum wage at $17.05.
In Cook County, outside Chicago, the minimum wage will rise to $15.40 per hour, though many municipalities opt out of this minimum wage.
Everett and Renton in Washington
Two cities in the Seattle area — Everett and Renton — will raise their minimum wages for certain workers on Wednesday. In Renton, workers for mid-size employers are getting a minimum wage increase from $20.57 to $21.57.
In Everett, the new minimum wage for midsize employers is $19.77, up from $18.77.
Howard and Montgomery counties in Maryland
On Wednesday, Howard County's minimum wage for small employers jumps 50 cents to $16 per hour.
Montgomery County is also lifting its minimum wage by 35 to 50 cents per hour, depending on employer size.
Oregon
Workers in Oregon are covered by three different minimum wages, depending on whether they work in a non-urban county, the "general" area or the Portland metro. The minimum wage is going up in all three places on Wednesday.
Here are the new hourly minimums:
- Non-urban counties: $14.55
- General/standard: $15.55
- Portland metro: $16.80
St. Paul, Minnesota
Workers for small employers (those with 100 or fewer employees) will be covered by a higher minimum wage in St. Paul effective Wednesday. The new rates are $14.25 per hour (employers with five or fewer workers) and $16.37 per hour (six to 100 employees).
Washington, D.C.
An inflation adjustment to D.C.'s minimum wage takes effect Wednesday. The 45-cent increase will bring the rate to $18.40, keeping D.C.'s minimum wage among the highest of major U.S. cities.
