19 States Start Paying Better 2017 Minimum Wage Jan 1st

2017 minimum wage is about to increase in 19 states at the beginning of this year with two more states scheduled to do the same later in the year.

While federal minimum wage at $7.25/h has not changed for years, most state legislatures acted in recent years to increase their state-level minimum wages.

Find out if your state is increasing the minimum wage this year

In 2017, twenty-one states are boosting their minimum wages. Nineteen out of the 21 will start paying higher minimum wages at the beginning of the year.

Others are scheduled to do the same at some point during the year 2017.

Did my State increase the minimum wage and by how much?

What States did increase their minimum wage requirements in 2017 and by how much? Check the 2017 minimum wage table below for the answer.

List of states increasing their minimum wage in 2017

  • 2017 minimum wage in Alaska  up from $9.75/h to $9.80/h or by 0.5%
  • 2017 minimum wage in Arkansas  up from $8.00/h to $8.50/h or by 6.2%
  • 2017 minimum wage in California  up from $10.00/h to $10.50/h or by 5.0%
  • 2017 minimum wage in Colorado  up from $8.31/h to $9.30/h or by 11.9%
  • 2017 minimum wage in Connecticut  up from $9.60/h to $10.10/h or by 5.2%
  • 2017 minimum wage in Florida  up from $8.05/h to $8.10/h or by 0.6%
  • 2017 minimum wage in Hawaii  up from $8.50/h to $9.25/h or by 8.8%
  • 2017 minimum wage in Maine  up from $7.50/h to $9.00/h or by 20.0%
  • 2017 minimum wage in Maryland  up from $8.75/h to $9.25/h or by 5.7%
  • 2017 minimum wage in Massachusetts  up from $10.00/h to $11.00/h or by 10.0%
  • 2017 minimum wage in Michigan  up from $8.50/h to $8.90/h or by 4.7%
  • 2017 minimum wage in Missouri  up from $7.65/h to $7.70/h or by 0.6%
  • 2017 minimum wage in Montana  up from $8.05/h to $8.15/h or by 1.2%
  • 2017 minimum wage in New Jersey  up from $8.38/h to $8.44/h or by 0.7%
  • 2017 minimum wage in New York  up from $9.00/h to $9.70/h or by 7.8%
  • 2017 minimum wage in Ohio  up from $8.10/h to $8.15/h or by 0.6%
  • 2017 minimum wage in Oregon  up from $9.75/h to $10.25/h or by 5.1%
  • 2017 minimum wage in South Dakota  up from $8.55/h to $8.65/h or by 1.2%
  • 2017 minimum wage in Vermont  up from $9.60/h to $10.00/h or by 4.2%
  • 2017 minimum wage in Washington  up from $9.47/h to $11.00/h or by 16.1%

Increasing the minimum wage is especially relevant in states where the hourly pay has been historically lower than the rest of the country.

Looking at the list the states that are getting most minimum wage increase in 2017 are Maine, Washington, and Colorado, getting 20%, 16.1%, and 11.9% respectively. As a result, the minimum wage workers in those 3 states are expected to benefit most of the listed 21 states with a minimum wage increase in 2017.

As a result, the minimum wage workers in those 3 states are expected to benefit most of the listed 21 states with a minimum wage increase in 2017.

At the bottom of the list are five states; Alaska, Florida, Missouri, New Jersey, and Ohio –  with less than 1% minimum wage increase for 2017.

Still, this is a progress, a step ahead for all listed states in keeping the minimum wage in pace with the current low inflation conditions.

Sources: State Agencies, US Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division (WHD)