List of U.S. minimum wages

List of U.S. Minimum Wages is a comprehensive record of the minimum wage rates in the United States. The minimum wage is the lowest remuneration that employers can legally pay their workers. The first federal minimum wage was created as part of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) in 1938, and it has been increased 22 times since then.

Federal Minimum Wage

The federal minimum wage is set by the U.S. Congress and signed into law by the President of the United States. As of 2021, the federal minimum wage is $7.25 per hour, a rate that has been in effect since July 24, 2009. The federal minimum wage provisions are contained in the FLSA.

State Minimum Wages

In addition to the federal minimum wage, each U.S. state can set its own minimum wage rates. As of 2021, 29 states and D.C. have minimum wages above the federal minimum wage. The highest state minimum wage is in the District of Columbia, where it is $15.00 per hour.

Local Minimum Wages

Some cities and counties in the U.S. have implemented their own minimum wage rates, which are higher than both the federal and state minimum wages. For example, the city of Seattle, Washington, has a minimum wage of $16.69 per hour for large employers and $15.00 per hour for small employers.

Impact of Minimum Wage

The impact of minimum wage increases is a topic of ongoing debate among economists. Some argue that higher minimum wages lead to job losses, while others contend that they boost incomes for low-wage workers and reduce income inequality.

See Also

• Living wage
• Wage theft
• Income inequality in the United States

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