The minimum wage increased in 19 states as 2017 began:

  1. Alaska’s hourly minimum wage inched up from $9.75 to $9.80.
  2. Arizona hiked its minimum wage from $8.05 to $10.
  3. Arkansas’ minimum wage went from $8 to $8.50.
  4. California boosted its minimum wage from $10 to $10.50 for employers with at least 26 employees; the rate will remain $10 for those with fewer employees.
  5. Colorado raised its minimum wage from $8.31 to $9.30.
  6. Connecticut changed its minimum wage from $9.60 to $10.10.
  7. Florida’s minimum hourly rate inched up from $8.05 to $8.10.
  8. Hawaii hiked its minimum wage from $8.50 to $9.25.
  9. Maine’s minimum wage increased from $7.50 to $9.
  10. Massachusetts’ minimum wage went from $10 to $11.
  11. Michigan boosted its minimum wage from $8.50 to $8.90.
  12. Missouri changed its minimum wage from $7.65 to $7.70.
  13. Montana raised its wage from $8.05 to $8.15.
  14. New Jersey’s minimum wage increased from $8.38 to $8.44.
  15. In much of the state of New York, the minimum wage went from $9.70 to $10.40 effective Jan. 1. On Long Island and in Westchester County, however, the rate changed from $10 to $11. In New York City, for employers with more than 11 employees, the minimum wage was increased from $11 to $13, and for employers with 10 or fewer employees, the rate went from $10.50 to $12.
  16. Ohio boosted its minimum wage from $8.10 to $8.15.
  17. South Dakota’s minimum wage increased from $8.55 to $8.65.
  18. Vermont increased its minimum wage from $9.60 to $10.
  19. Washington’s minimum wage changed from $9.47 to $11.

Two additional states, Maryland and Oregon, will see minimum wage increases on July 1. Maryland’s rate will go from $8.75 to $9.25. In Oregon, the standard minimum wage will increase from $9.75 to $10.25 in 18 counties except for urban areas. In the Portland metropolitan area, it will increase from $9.75 to $11.25. In nonurban counties, the minimum wage will increase from $9.50 to $10.00.

The minimum wage in several cities increased effective Jan. 1 as well. In Ohio, however, Gov. John Kasich, a former presidential candidate signed a bill Dec. 19 that prevents cities in the Buckeye State from enacting minimum wage increases that exceed the state’s level. Cleveland city officials had sought assistance from state lawmakers to block a ballot initiative there that called for the phase-in of a minimum $15 hourly rate only in the city; Cleveland officials maintained that a rate that significantly differed from that of surrounding cities would hurt its businesses.