There is very good news for workers. In more than 20 states across the country, the minimum wage will increase starting January 1, 2025. This is a significant change in the incomes of U.S. citizens that will allow them to do a little better in the face of inflation that is sweeping the country. Want to know how much the minimum wage increase is for 2025 and which states will receive it? Then read on to find out all the details.
Regarding the first question, it is necessary to remark that, at the federal level, the minimum wage remains at $7.25 per hour. This amount has remained the same since 2009, almost 15 years ago. However, most states have established minimum wages of their own, often higher than the federal minimum wage. This is intended to allow workers to reach household and family expenses in the midst of such a complicated economic context.
In 2025, 21 states will adjust their minimum wages from the first day of January. This is confirmed by the recently published GovDocs. But this is not all. Those that will not raise workers’ wages on January 1 could do so during the course of the year. It is worth noting that in states without their own minimum wage or with one lower than the federal one, as is the case of Alabama, Mississippi and Georgia, the amount in force will remain at $7.25, according to data provided by the Ministry of Labor website.
List of minimum wages by state in 2025
Without further ado, we will reveal the adjustments to be made in minimum wages for 2025. This is how the list will look like, according to the information provided by government authorities :
States with no change ($7.25 per hour).
- Alabama
- South Carolina
- North Dakota
- Georgia
- Idaho
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Mississippi
- New Hampshire
- Oklahoma
- Texas
- Tennessee
- Pennsylvania
- Utah
- West Virginia
- Wyoming
- Wisconsin.
States with significant increases
- California: $16.50 (up from $16).
- Connecticut: $16.35 (up from $15.69).
- Florida: $14 (increases effective September 30, 2025).
- Illinois: $15 (up from $14)
- New York: $15.50 (up from $15)
- Alaska: $11.91 (adjusted for inflation)
- Arizona: $14.70 (up from $14.35)
- Colorado: $14.81 (up from $14.42)
- Delaware: $15 (up from $13.25)
- Massachusetts: $15 (will remain the same as in 2024)
- Minnesota: $11.13 (usually varies depending on the size of the company)
- Missouri: $13.75 (up from $12.30)
These are the states with the lowest and highest minimum wages in the U.S.
Leaving aside the increase, which will only be finalized on January 1, 2025, we will analyze the lowest and highest minimum wage in the United States. As you could already notice in the list, the income of workers is different depending on the city they live in. And many times, there is quite a difference between one and the other.
For example, the five states that have not established their own minimum wage are far below the list. They also maintain the federal one, which is $7.25 per hour. These states are: South Carolina, Alabama, Louisiana, Louisiana, Tennessee and Mississippi.
On the other side of the border are Washington, California and Massachusetts. These states have the highest minimum wages nationwide by far. Washington has a $15.74 minimum wage, while California has a $15.50 minimum wage. Massachusetts follows closely behind the leaders and is just one step below at $15.
