Managing employees in multiple states makes it tricky to keep track of the latest labor laws. Accidentally paying employees in Arizona like an employee in Arkansas risks racking up both legal and non-compliance fees far exceeding the $2.85 difference in the state's minimum wage.
For over 50 years, Lift has helped businesses across the country empower their employees through human capital management (the “HCM” in Lift HCM). That’s why we made this!
Our quick reference guide makes it easy to find the minimum wage in each state and check your work when processing your payroll (assuming we aren’t doing that for you already). You paid for the whole seat, but you’ll only need the edge for the heart-pounding thrill ride of content to come.
Alabama
Alabama has no minimum wage. So we’re off to a good start.
This means employers must default to the federal minimum wage of $7.25 set forth in the Fair Labor Standards Act (FSLA).
Alaska
Alaska’s minimum wage was raised to $10.85, effective January 1st, 2023. The state also forbid a distinction between tipped and non-tipped employees.
Arizona
Arizona enacted a $13.85 per hour minimum wage based on the Consumer Price Index. This sets the minimum wage for tipped workers at $10.85.
Arkansas
January 1st marked the start of Arkansas $11.00 per hour minimum wage capping off increases stemming from the passage of the Arkansas Minimum Wage Act in 2018.
The hourly wage applies to businesses operating with at least four employees. Companies that don’t meet this criteria are still required to abide by the minimum wage standards listed in the FLSA.
California
California has installed a mandatory minimum wage of $15.50 per hour and joins six other states in prohibiting businesses from paying below minimum wage rate for tipped employees.
Colorado
Colorado has raised its minimum wage to $13.65 on the first of the year, bringing the hourly wage for tipped employees to $10.63.
Connecticut
Connecticut will increase its minimum wage to $15.00 on June 1st; up from $14.00 per hour the previous year.
The state is also requiring that any hours logged on an employee’s seventh consecutive day of work be counted as overtime; carving out a special consideration for employees in the hospitality industry.
Delaware
The minimum wage in Deleware increased to $11.75 per hour in January. It will also increase to $13.25 and $15.00 per hour each January for the next two years.
District of Columbia (D.C.)
$17.00 per hour became the new minimum wage in Washington D.C. on July 1st, of this year, up from $16.10 in January of 2022. July 1st also saw wages rise to $8.00 for tipped employees (up from $6.00 last May). Still with us? Good. Because it’s time for the first dance number…
Florida
Florida minimum wage will increase to $12.00 per hour on September 30th, marking the halfway point in a four-year plan to increase the minimum wage in one-dollar increments.
Georgia
The minimum wage in Georgia still sits at only $5.15 per hour. Employers for whom the FSLA applies must pay the federal minimum wage.
Hawaii
Hawaii’s wages rose to $12.00 per hour in 2022 (with an increase to $14.00 coming on the first of next year). No word yet on whether those hours are measured on island time.
The state has also relaxed regulatory requirements on wages and overtime for employees guaranteed to earn at least $2,000 per month.
Idaho
Wages in Idaho match the federal minimum of $7.25 per hour. Employees below the age of 20 are allowed to earn a training wage of $4.25 per hour within their first 90 calendar days.
Illinois
A minimum wage of $13.00 per hour went into effect for Illinois workers at the start of the year. The minimum is set to increase to $14 per hour at the start of next year and to $15 the year after that.
Indiana
Minimum wage in Indiana meets FLSA requirements at $7.25 per hour.
Iowa
Iowa also matches federal standards minimum wage at $7.25 per hour (but Indiana wore it best).
Kansas
Kansas followed suit at $7.25 per hour (plus whatever get from pawning those ruby slippers).
Kentucky
Kentucky joins the party at an FLSA-compliant $7.25 per hour.
Louisiana
With no minimum wage, employers in Louisiana defer to the $7.25 federal minimum provided in the FLSA. This is fun. Are you having fun?
Maine
Maine’s minimum hourly wage rose to $13.80 at the start of the year.
Maryland
Minimum wage is $12.80 per hour for Maryland employers with a staff size less than 15. This minimum will grow annually in 60-cent increments until it hits $15.00 per hour.
Businesses employing at least 15 workers will see an annual increase of 75 cents until their $13.25 per hour minimum wage reaches $15.00 as well.
Way to keep it simple, Maryland.
Massachusetts
Minimum wage in Massachusetts was raised to $15.00 per hour at the start of the year (though rumor has it you get overtime for spelling “Massachusetts” out loud on the first try).
Michigan
Michigan’s minimum wage comes in at $10.10 per hour as of January 1st. Losing interest? No you’re not. Because here comes the pyrotechnics display!
This was from the band’s acoustic set.
Minnesota
Minnesota minimum wage is $8.63 per hour for small employers and $10.59 for large ones. The state defines “large” employers as those earning over $500,000 in gross annual income.
Mississippi
Mississippi matches the federal minimum wage at $7.25 per hour.
Missouri
Missouri’s minimum wage rose to $12.00 per hour this year, though the state follows FLSA standards for workers in retail or service industry with less than half a million dollars in gross annual sales.
Montana
Montana's minimum wage was set at $9.95 per hour on January 1st of 2023. Businesses which aren’t covered by the FLSA and have gross annual sales under $110,000 are required to provide a minimum wage of $4.00 per hour.
Nebraska
Nebraska’s minimum wage reached $10.50 per hour last January.
Nevada
In Nevada, the minimum wage varies based on whether employers offer health benefits. The hourly minimum rose to $11.25 for those who don’t provide benefits and $10.25 for those who do in July of this year.
On July 1st of 2024, Nevada’s minimum wage will increase again to $12.00 per hour for all employers, regardless of whether they provide qualifying health benefits or not.
New Hampshire
The state of New Hampshire doesn’t have a minimum wage, so employers defer to the $7.25 per hour federal minimum wage established in the FLSA.
New Jersey
The minimum wage in New Jersey rose to $14.00 per hour at the start of the year and will continue to increase in annual, one-dollar increments until it reaches $15.00 per hour. For employers with seasonal or a staff of less than six, the minimum wage is $11.90 (but increases to $15.00 in 2026).
New Mexico
New Mexico's minimum wage is currently $12.00 per hour, as of January 1st, 2023.
New York State
In New York State, the minimum wage varies depending on the locality. For example, New York City, Long Island and Westchester County have a minimum wage of $15.00 per hour, increasing to $16.00 per hour on January 1st, 2024. For the rest of the state, the minimum wage is set at $14.20 per hour, increasing to $15.00 per hour on January 1st, 2024.
North Carolina
North Carolina's minimum wage is $7.25 per hour, the same as FLSA standards.
North Dakota
North Dakota minimum wage is $7.25 per hour, the same as FLSA standards.
Ohio
Ohio's minimum wage is currently $10.10 per hour, as of January 1st, 2023.
Oklahoma
Oklahoma's minimum wage is $7.25 per hour as of January 1st, 2023 for employers with ten or more full-time employees in one location, or employers with gross annual sales of over $100,000.
Oregon
Oregon's minimum wage rose to $14.20 per hour in early July, while increasing to $13.20 in non-urban counties and $15.45 per hour in the Portland Metro area.
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania's minimum wage is $7.25 per hour, the same as FLSA standards.
Puerto Rico
Minimum wage in Puerto Rico rose to $9.50 per hour on July 1st.
Now for the closing ensemble number. We ran out of budget for this one, but thankfully a few members of the team stepped in to help us out.
Thanks, team! They’ve been rehearsing for months. Why are you laughing?
Rhode Island
Rhode Island's minimum wage is $13.00 per hour as of January 1st.
South Carolina
The state of South Carolina has no minimum wage, so employers must abide by the minimum wage set by the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) which is currently $7.25 per hour, as of January 1st, 2022.
South Dakota
South Dakota minimum wage is $10.80 per hour as of January 1st, 2023.
Tennessee
Tennessee defers to the FLSA-standard minimum wage of $7.25.
Texas
Texas maintains a minimum wage mirroring FLSA standards ($7.25) and applies solely to employees excluded from its umbrella.
Utah
Like Texas, Utah applies a minimum wage of $7.25 per hour to employees who aren’t covered by FLSA standards.
Vermont
Vermont implemented a $13.18 minimum hourly wage to businesses with two or more employees at the start of the year.
Virginia
Virginia increased its minimum wage to $12.00 per hour for employers with more than four workers.
Washington
While the minimum wage in Washington State is $15.74 per hour, but but may vary by region (e.g. $17.27 in Seattle).
West Virginia
West Virginia assigned businesses with less than six non-exempt employees a minimum hourly wage of $7.25 while requiring $8.75 those with more than six or more.
Wisconsin
Wisconsin minimum wage lines up with FLSA standards at $7.25 per hour.
Wyoming
Wyoming employees covered by the standards set forth in the FLSA earn a minimum wage of $7.25 per hour. The hourly minimum for everyone else is $5.15.
Put Administrative Chores On the Chopping Block
Let’s be clear: auditing is like if stress had a Superbowl.
How do you respond when the nice man from Washington is waiting for you to...
(A) generate, and
(B) explain dense reports full of data you can barely...
(C) read.
Balancing your bookkeeping and keeping up with compliance while meeting the demands of a growing business is daunting, but you’re not without hope.If you’re ready to find more time for work you’re passionate about doing, you could use a Lift.
Lift HCM is an independent provider of human capital management solutions. We’ll help you file taxes, process payroll, and keep compliant. HCMs create a cushion when facing the wrath of agencies and regulators during audits or inspections by acting as a go-between. In other words…
We bring peace to great minds and stability to the teams disrupting everything.
Finding Your Perfect Payroll Partner
If you’re ready to relieve the many headaches of human resources and get back to growing your business, you need a provider who’s proud to be a part of your journey.
But a journey of a thousand miles starts by putting on your pants (most don’t make it this far). Candidates cover a sliding scale of sizes from industry titans like ADP to self-service platforms like Gusto or Justworks. It’s time to find the right fit for the next leg of your journey.
Dana Vincent is a seasoned Business Development Manager, who supports business owners in finding the right solutions for their payroll and HCM needs. Dana comes from a background in restaurant management, and has used that experience to understand the needs of small business owners. From small companies to large, Dana can help them with tools that can streamline their processes, enhance their compliance, and aid in their talent management. Outside of work, Dana is kept busy with her family, training her young dog to stop jumping on people, and renovating her 100 year old home.
