April 2021, Volume 27, Number 2
The federal minimum wage has been $7.25 an hour since 2009
The federal minimum wage has been $7.25 an hour since 2009. Some states, counties and cities have raised their minimum wages above the federal level, so that 60 percent of US workers in 2019 were in the 29 states with minimum wages above $7.25. If the federal minimum wage remains at $7.25, and scheduled increases in state and local minimum wages occur, about 40 percent of US workers will be in states with a $7.25 minimum wage in 2025 and 30 percent will be in states with a minimum wage of $15 or higher.
In 2025, there could be a 2-1 difference in minimum wages for the 40% of US workers in states with a $7.25 wage and the 30% of US workers in states with a $15 wage.