New Year, New Minimum Wage

2024 brings higher wages…

22 states increase their minimum wage for the New Year.

With all the buzz about the new minimum wage for California’s fast food workers and health care workers, many employers may be interested to know what the going rate for an hour’s worth of work is in other states.

In fact, 22 states have increased their minimum wage this year, effective January 1, 2024.

  • Alaska: from $10.85 to $11.73 for an increase of $0.88.

  • Arizona: from $13.85 to $14.35 for an increase of $0.50.

  • California: from $15.50 to $16 for an increase of $0.50.

  • Colorado: from $13.65 to $14.42 for an increase of $0.77.

  • Connecticut: from $15 to $15.69 for an increase of $0.69.

  • Delaware: from $11.75 to $13.25 for an increase of $1.50.

  • Hawaii: from $12 to $14 for an increase of $2.00.

  • Illinois: from $13 to $14 for an increase of $1.00.

  • Maine: from $13.80 to $14.15 for an increase of $0.35.

  • Maryland: from $13.25 to $15 (Large employers) for an increase of $1.75, from $12.80 to $15 (Small employers) for an increase of $2.20.

  • Michigan: from $10.10 to $10.33 for an increase of $0.23.

  • Minnesota: from $10.59 to $10.85 (Large employers) for an increase of $0.26, from $8.63 to $8.85 (Small employers) for an increase of $0.22.

  • Missouri: from $12 to $12.30 for an increase of $0.30.

  • Montana: from $9.95 to $10.30 for an increase of $0.35.

  • Nebraska: from $10.50 to $12 for an increase of $1.50.

  • New Jersey: from $14.13 to $15.13 for an increase of $1.00.

  • New York: $14.20 to $15 (for the state) for an increase of $0.80; $15 to $16 (for New York City, Westchester, and Long Island ONLY) for an increase of $1.00.

  • Ohio: $10.10 to $10.45 for an increase of $0.35.

  • Rhode Island: $13 to $14 for an increase of $1.00.

  • South Dakota: $10.80 to $11.20 for an increase of $0.40.

  • Vermont: $13.18 to $13.67 for an increase of $0.49.

  • Washington: $15.74 to $16.28 for an increase of $0.54.

Some of the largest increases for an hour’s worth of work are found in Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, and Rhode Island. These states increased their minimum wage by at least $1 or more, with some topping the charts at an increase of at least $2.00 an hour (i.e. Hawaii and Maryland).