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Hawaii $10.10, Maryland $10.10, Michigan $9.25, Vermont $10.50
Connecticut $10.10 Massachusetts $11 Minnesota $9.50 West Virginia $8.75
Connecticut $9, Delaware $8.25 Hawaii $7.75, Maryland $8 Massachusetts $9, Michigan $8.50 Minnesota $9, Rhode Island $9 Vermont $9.15, West Virginia $8
Washington $9.47 District of Columbia $9.50 2014
Missouri $3.80
2016
First year state set a minimum wage.
1990
1992
Hawaii $5.25
Oregon $4.75
1994
21 States/Federal $7.25
Congress sets first federal minimum wage at 25 cents an hour. The 1938 Act was applicable generally to employees engaged in interstate commerce or in the production of goods for interstate commerce.
1988
Indiana, Kansas, Wyoming
All had minimum wages lower than $2 and lower than federal minimum wage, $3.35.
Interstate Commerce: $1.15 Retail and Service: $1
The 1961 Amendments extended coverage primarily to employees in large retail and service enterprises as well as to local transit, construction and gasoline service station employees.
Kansas $7.25
First time state’s minimum wage matched the federal minimum wage; up from $2.65, set in 1991.
Federal $7.25
Federal $6.55
The federal minimum wage has increased 29 times since 1938. Some states have raised their rates, often above the federal rate, while others have kept wages at or below the 1956 federal rate.
Arizona $6.75
Federal $3.10
1979
Alaska $3.40
2006
Florida $6.40
First year the state set a minimum wage.
40 CAPITOL IDEAS | MAR/APR 2015
1998
Federal $2.30 1976
1980
Federal $5.85
First year state set a minimum wage since the weekly wage minimums in 1972.
Oregon $6 District of Columbia $6.15
Georgia, Indiana $1.25
Federal $2.90
2008
2007
Federal $5.15 1997
Federal $3.35 1981
California, Massachusetts, Washington—$8 or more
1996
When did the hourly minimum wage rise?
Federal $1
2009
Federal $4.75
1938 1961
2010
Sources: CSG’s The Book of the States Volume 32 U.S. Department of Labor, Office of State Standards Programs Wage and Hour Division website
Federal $4.25
1991
Federal $3.80
2015
2018
2017
2002
1978
Federal $2.65
2003
Alaska $7.15
Georgia $5.15
First time state’s minimum wage matched the federal rate.
