The U.S. government has raised minimum wage of employees in its various states so that U.S. citizens are able to pay basic living costs amid the economic crisis. The inflation rate and cost of living is also increasing at a rapid pace due to which large number of people are finding it difficult to meet a decent standard of living.
Therefore, On January 1, 2025, the federal government has raised minimum hourly wage of employees in 21 states. Yet, the state government of various states may also determine the minimum wage for the eligible non-exempt employees. In such a situation, minimum wages are received by the workers that have the maximum amount.
US Minimum Wage Increase 2025
The federal government of U.S. has established the minimum wage of $7.25 hourly for the workers in 2025. Therefore, if you are a citizen of U.S. and willing to know the raised minimum wage of your state then you can go through the present article. The article provides main information regarding the federal minimum wage for 2025, eligibility criteria, in which states of U.S. minimum wage is raised, and other relevant details.
U.S. Minimum Wage Increase 2025 – Overview
| Article On | US Minimum Wage Increase 2025 |
| Country | United States of America |
| Department | The U.S. Department of Labor |
| Increase Minimum Wage for 2025 | As per the different states |
| Category | Finance |
| Official Website | dol.gov |
About U.S. Minimum Wage
The minimum wage that an employee gets from his or her employer per hour is referred to as federal minimum wage. According to the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), it is requirement for every employer within the United States to pay the established hourly minimum wage to their employees. The core objective of FLSA is to safeguard the workers from exploitation by offering efficient job opportunity and necessary hourly wage to them. The federal minimum wage statute is enforced and regulated by the U.S. Department of Labor.
The former president Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the Fair Labor Standard Act (FLSA) and set federal minimum wage of 25 cents hourly for eligible workers. Apart from this, the second objective of FLSA was also to prohibit Child Labor in the United States of America. Since 1938, the U.S. Department of Labor continue to modify the labor laws and the minimum wage based on the political, social and economic conditions.
Furthermore, the responsibility of making sure that the workers are paid the minimum wage is of the Wage and Hour Division of the U.S. Department of Labor. If you have any questions about the federal minimum wage, then you can either check the official website of the U.S. Department of Labor or you may also check the offices of The Wage and Hour Division. Apart from that, the minimum worker wage is determined by the U.S.’s regional, state, and federal government.
Minimum Wage of different states in the United States for 2025
| State | Minimum Wage per hour (2025) |
| Wyoming | $7.25 |
| Wisconsin | $7.25 |
| West Virginia | $8.75 |
| Washington | $16.66* |
| Washington, D.C. | $17.50* |
| Virginia | $12.41* |
| Vermont | $14.01* |
| Utah | $7.25 |
| Texas | $7.25 |
| Tennessee | $7.25 |
| South Dakota | $11.50* |
| South Carolina | $7.25 |
| Rhode Island | $15.00 |
| Pennsylvania | $7.25 |
| Oregon | $14.70 Basic minimum wage, $13.70 for non-urban countries*, and $15.95 for Portland |
| Oklahoma | $7.25 |
| Ohio | $5.35 for tipped employees, $10.70 for non-tipped employees, and $10.70 for workers with annual gross receipts of $394,000 and above |
| North Dakota | $7.25 |
| North Carolina | $7.25 |
| New York | $15.50 for upstate New York, $16.50 for Westchester County, Long Island and New York City |
| New Mexico | $12.00 |
| New Jersey | $14.53 for employees who work at small business and $15.49 for majority of employers |
| New Hampshire | $7.25 |
| Nevada | $12.00* |
| Nebraska | $13.50* |
| Montana | $10.55* |
| Missouri | $13.75* |
| Mississippi | $7.25 |
| Minnesota | $11.13* |
| Michigan | $10.56 |
| Massachusetts | $15.00 |
| Maryland | $15.00 |
| Maine | $14.65* |
| Louisiana | $7.25 |
| Kentucky | $7.25 |
| Kansas | $7.25 |
| Iowa | $7.25 |
| Indiana | $7.25 |
| Illinois | $15.00 |
| Idaho | $7.25 |
| Hawaii | $14.00 |
| Georgia | $7.25 |
| Florida | $13.00* |
| Delaware | $15.00 |
| Connecticut | $16.35* |
| Colorado | $14.81* |
| California | $16.50* |
| Arkansas | $11.00 |
| Arizona | $14.70* |
| Alaska | $11.91* |
| Alabama | $7.25 |
U.S. Minimum Wage Increase for 2025 Eligibility
To qualify for the federal minimum wage hike in 2025, a worker needs to meet the eligibly requirements under the Fair Labor Standards Act by the U.S. federal government. The requirements include –
- The worker should either be a U.S. citizen or a permanent resident of the U.S.
- The employees who are paid hourly and by only those employers who pay minimum wage are eligible for the federal minimum wage for 2025.
- Only tipped workers are entitled to federal minimum wage boost when they make $2.13 cash wage an hour and get tips that amount to at least 5.12 so that the established $7.25 federal minimum wage can be achieved.
- Workers below 20 years of age are only eligible to be paid the federal minimum wage of $4.25 an hour but for just their first 90 days of work.
The States Which Increased Minimum Wage of Workers for 2025
The hourly minimum wage for workers in 21 U.S. states was raised by the state governments on January 1, 2025. The following 21 states have raised the minimum wage:
| State | Minimum Wage per hour (2025) |
| Washington | $16.66 |
| Vermont | $14.01 |
| South Dakota | $11.50 |
| Rhode Island | $15.00 |
| Ohio | $10.70 |
| New York State (NYS) | $15.50 and 16.50 (depends on location) |
| New Jersey | $15.49 |
| Nebraska | $13.50 |
| Montana | $10.55 |
| Missouri | $13.75 |
| Minnesota | $11.13 |
| Michigan | $12.48 |
| Maine | $14.65 |
| Illinois | $15.00 |
| Hawaii | $14.00 |
| Delaware | $15.00 |
| Connecticut | $16.35 |
| Colorado | $14.81 |
| California | $16.50 |
| Arizona | $14.70 |
| Alaska | $11.91 |
The Bottom Line
Beginning January 1, 2025, the U.S. federal government raised the federal minimum wage for non-exempt workers. Each American state has a separate federal minimum wage for 2025. The federal government raised the minimum wage to help workers afford basic living standards in light of the growing cost of living and inflation rates. Additionally, the state governments of 21 U.S. states have raised the minimum wage for their employees’ hourly wages for 2025.
| Official Website | Click Here |
| Homepage | DBRAU.org.in |
