The minimal wage in each state in 2021

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It has been more than a decade since the federal minimum wage was increased. The minimum wage, first passed by Congress in 1938 at 25 cents an hour, was last raised in 2009 from USD 6.55 to USD 7.25. Despite calls for a minimum wage of $ 15 an hour, it is unlikely that this will change in 2021 either.

While the federal minimum wage has stagnated for a decade, many states have enacted their own, higher minimum wage requirements. More than half of the states have minimum wages higher than the federal wage, and workers in 20 states will continue to raise wages in 2021.

A handful of states either have no minimum wage or one that is below the federal level. In these areas, any employer subject to the Fair Labor Standards Act, which includes government agencies, health facilities, schools, and businesses with gross annual wages of at least $ 500,000, must meet federal wage requirements.

Curious where your state stands? Read on to find out the current minimum wage in each state and District of Columbia, as well as whether that number will increase in the New Year. The data comes from Paycor, a personnel and payroll service provider.

1. Alabama

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Minimum wage 2021: $ 7.25

Minimum wage 2020: $ 7.25

According to the US Department of Labor, Alabama is one of the states that do not have state minimum wage laws. Employers subject to federal Fair Labor Laws are therefore required to pay the federal minimum wage, which is currently $ 7.25 per hour.

2. Alaska

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Minimum wage 2021: $ 10.34

Minimum wage 2020: $ 10.19

3. Arizona

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Minimum wage 2021: $ 12.15

Minimum wage 2020: $ 12.00

4. Arkansas

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Minimum wage 2021: $ 11.00

Minimum wage 2020: $ 10.00

5. California

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Minimum wage 2021: $ 14.00

Minimum wage 2020: $ 13.00

Only companies with 26 or more employees will have to pay $ 14 an hour in 2021. Smaller businesses can pay $ 13 an hour. Many cities in the state also have their own higher minimum wage requirements.

6. Colorado

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Minimum wage 2021: $ 12.32

Minimum wage 2020: $ 12.00

7. Connecticut

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Minimum wage 2021: $ 13.00 (effective August 1, 2021)

Minimum wage 2020: $ 12.00

8. Delaware

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Minimum wage 2021: $ 9.25

Minimum wage 2020: $ 9.25

9. Washington, D.C.

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Minimum wage 2021: $ 15.00

Minimum wage 2020: $ 15.00

10. Florida

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Minimum wage 2021: USD 10.00 (effective September 30, 2021)

Minimum wage 2020: $ 8.56

11. Georgia

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Minimum wage 2021: $ 5.15

Minimum wage 2020: $ 5.15

Although the state minimum wage in Georgia is $ 5.15, employers subject to Fair Labor Law are required to pay the federal minimum wage of $ 7.25 an hour.

12. Hawaii

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Minimum wage 2021: $ 10.10

Minimum wage 2020: $ 10.10

13. Idaho

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Minimum wage 2021: $ 7.25

Minimum wage 2020: $ 7.25

14. Illinois

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Minimum wage 2021: $ 11.00

Minimum wage 2020: $ 10.00

15. Indiana

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Minimum wage 2021: $ 7.25

Minimum wage 2020: $ 7.25

16. Iowa

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Minimum wage 2021: $ 7.25

Minimum wage 2020: $ 7.25

17. Kansas

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Minimum wage 2021: $ 7.25

Minimum wage 2020: $ 7.25

18. Kentucky

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Minimum wage 2021: $ 7.25

Minimum wage 2020: $ 7.25

19. Louisiana

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Minimum wage 2021: $ 7.25

Minimum wage 2020: $ 7.25

According to the US Department of Labor, Louisiana is one of the states that has no state minimum wage laws. Employers subject to federal Fair Labor Laws are therefore required to pay the federal minimum wage, which is currently $ 7.25 per hour.

20. Maine

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Minimum wage 2021: $ 12.15

Minimum wage 2020: $ 12.00

21. Maryland

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Minimum wage 2021: $ 11.75

Minimum wage 2020: $ 11.00

Only companies with 15 or more employees will have to pay $ 11.75 per hour in 2021. Smaller businesses can pay $ 11.60 per hour.

22. Massachusetts

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Minimum wage 2021: $ 13.50

Minimum wage 2020: $ 12.75

23. Michigan

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Minimum wage 2021: $ 9.87

Minimum wage 2020: $ 9.65

24. Minnesota

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Minimum wage 2021: $ 10.08

Minimum wage 2020: $ 10.00

Only large employers with gross annual earnings of $ 500,000 or more are required to pay $ 10.08 per hour. The minimum wage for smaller businesses is $ 8.21 per hour.

25. Mississippi

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Minimum wage 2021: $ 7.25

Minimum wage 2020: $ 7.25

According to the US Department of Labor, Mississippi is one of the states that has no state minimum wage laws. Employers subject to federal Fair Labor Laws are therefore required to pay the federal minimum wage, which is currently $ 7.25 per hour.

26. Missouri

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Minimum wage 2021: $ 10.30

Minimum wage 2020: $ 9.45

27. Montana

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Minimum wage 2021: $ 8.75

Minimum wage 2020: $ 8.65

28. Nebraska

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Minimum wage 2021: $ 9.00

Minimum wage 2020: $ 9.00

29. Nevada

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Minimum wage 2021: $ 8.75 (effective July 1, 2021)

Minimum wage 2020: $ 8.00

Nevada employees who are not offered health insurance must be paid a minimum of $ 9.75 per hour.

30. New Hampshire

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Minimum wage 2021: $ 7.25

Minimum wage 2020: $ 7.25

31. New Jersey

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Minimum wage 2021: $ 12.00

Minimum wage 2020: $ 11.00

Only companies that are not seasonal and employ six or more people will have to pay $ 12 an hour in 2021. Seasonal and smaller businesses can pay $ 11.00 per hour.

32. New Mexico

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Minimum wage 2021: $ 10.50

Minimum wage 2020: $ 9.00

33. New York

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Minimum wage 2021: $ 12.50

Minimum wage 2020: $ 11.80

Some cities in the state have their own higher minimum wage requirements.

34. North Carolina

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Minimum wage 2021: $ 7.25

Minimum wage 2020: $ 7.25

35. North Dakota

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Minimum wage 2021: $ 7.25

Minimum wage 2020: $ 7.25

36. Ohio

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Minimum wage 2021: $ 8.80

Minimum wage 2020: $ 8.70

37. Oklahoma

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Minimum wage 2021: $ 7.25

Minimum wage 2020: $ 7.25

38. Oregon

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Minimum wage 2021: $ 12.75 (effective July 1, 2021)

Minimum wage 2020: $ 12.00

39. Pennsylvania

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Minimum wage 2021: $ 7.25

Minimum wage 2020: $ 7.25

40. Rhode Island

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Minimum wage 2021: $ 11.50

Minimum wage 2020: $ 10.50

41. South Carolina

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Minimum wage 2021: $ 7.25

Minimum wage 2020: $ 7.25

According to the US Department of Labor, South Carolina is one of the states that has no state minimum wage laws. Employers subject to federal Fair Labor Laws are therefore required to pay the federal minimum wage, which is currently $ 7.25 per hour.

42. South Dakota

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Minimum wage 2021: $ 9.45

Minimum wage 2020: $ 9.30

43. Tennessee

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Minimum wage 2021: $ 7.25

Minimum wage 2020: $ 7.25

According to the US Department of Labor, Tennessee is one of the states that has no state minimum wage laws. Employers subject to federal Fair Labor Laws are therefore required to pay the federal minimum wage, which is currently $ 7.25 per hour.

44. Texas

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Minimum wage 2021: $ 7.25

Minimum wage 2020: $ 7.25

45. Utah

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Minimum wage 2021: $ 7.25

Minimum wage 2020: $ 7.25

46. ​​Vermont

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Minimum wage 2021: $ 11.75

Minimum wage 2020: $ 10.96

47. Virginia

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Minimum wage 2021: $ 7.25

Minimum wage 2020: $ 7.25

48. Washington

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Minimum wage 2021: $ 13.69

Minimum wage 2020: $ 13.50

49. West Virginia

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Minimum wage 2021: $ 8.75

Minimum wage 2020: $ 8.75

50. Wisconsin

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Minimum wage 2021: $ 7.25

Minimum wage 2020: $ 7.25

51. Wyoming

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Minimum wage 2021: $ 5.15

Minimum wage 2020: $ 5.15

Although the state minimum wage in Wyoming is $ 5.15, employers subject to Fair Labor Law must pay the federal minimum wage of $ 7.25 an hour.

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