States Move To Increase Minimum Wage

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Recently, Florida became the 29th state to pass legislation increasing their minimum wage. The increase to $15.00 per hour is twice the federal minimum wage of $7.25 established back in 2009. In the absence of a federal increase in the minimum wage, many states and localities have taken action.

The minimum wage has increased in 29 states and D.C. since 2014, with Florida and Rhode Island being the most recent. Florida’s current minimum wage of $8.56 will gradually increase but not reach $15 per hour until 2026. Next year, the wage will rise to $10 per hour on September 30, and from there, it will increase by $1 per year up to 2026.

Florida now joins California, Connecticut, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and New York on a shortlist of states that have enacted a $15 per hour minimum wage.

Contractors that need to comply with minimum wage requirements should be aware that more states may plan to increase their wages in the upcoming new year. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, in cases where a state minimum wage is higher than the federal standard, the higher standard would apply.