7 States Have a Minimum Wage of $15: This is what you will earn by starting at the bottom.

As a career management coach and former economic analyst, I track trends in business and the economy that may impact jobseekers. So, when a local radio station included minimum wage changes in the region in their summary of new laws for 2024, I listened.

The minimum wage for employees covered by the Federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), I was reminded, is $7.25 per hour although many states set higher rates in their own laws. Now, the minimum wage in two nearby states—New York and New Jersey—is more than $15 per hour, although my own state, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, continues to require covered employers to pay only $7.25 per hour. As a result, the states you are seeking work in matter, especially if you are “starting at the bottom” when finishing school, or seeking a “day job” while finding your dream job.

According to the Paycom blog, minimum wage rates run the gamut from $17 per hour to less than the Federal minimum wage. According to Paycom, 14 percent of the states and the District of Columbia have enacted minimum wage rates of $15 per hour or more. Washington, DC has the highest minimum in the nation–$17.

Start at the bottom and earn $15/hour or more in some states.

There are situations where you need a job—any job—right now to pay the bills.  Or, you may want to start at the bottom where you can build experience and train for the future. While we don’t advocate taking a minimum-wage job you may hate, it’s good to know there are places in the US where you would earn more than twice the Federal minimum.

According to Paycom, the following seven states, in addition to the District of Columbia, have minimum wages of $15.00 or more:

1. California,
2. Connecticut,
3. Maryland,
4. Massachusetts,
5. New Jersey,
6. New York,
7. Washington, DC, and
8. Washington State.

While $15 per hour is no longer a living wage in high-cost states such as New York or California, it is still a better “launch pad” than $7.25 per hour. On the other hand, many minimum-wage jobs, such as those in retail stores, personal care, or food-service are “high touch” roles that cannot be done remotely. So, living in a low-cost state while working in a high-cost locality with a $15+ minimum wage is probably not an option.

Nearly half the states increased their minimum wage in 2024.

Although the Federal minimum wage has not increased since 2009, 24 states and the District of Columbia have continued to increase their own minimum. According to the Paycom blog, these states include:

1. Alaska,
2. Arizona,
3. California,
4. Colorado,
5. Connecticut,
6. Delaware,
7. Florida,
8. Hawaii,
9. Illinois,
10. Maine,
11. Maryland,
12. Michigan,
13. Minnesota,
14. Missouri,
15. Montana,
16. Nebraska,
17. Nevada,
18. New Jersey, 
19. Ohio,
20. Oregon,   ,
21. Rhode Island,
22. South Dakota,
23. Vermont,
24. Washington, DC, and.
25. Washington State.

It’s fair to say the Federal minimum wage is abysmally low by 21^st Century standards, so it is fortunate that many states with high living costs have increased it on their own. But, history shows that the Federal Government has raised their minimum over time. It started at $0.25 per hour when the FLSA became law in 1938!

Pay rate minimums for each state are shown below.

Although some jobseekers, even at entry-level, have the flexibility to relocate into a high-minimum-wage state, many of us are not that mobile. We have to work in our own state, or a state within commuting distance. So, for completeness, we are including 2024 data from each state, with links to state websites, as provided in the Paycom blog.

State	2024 Minimum Hourly Wage
Alabama	$7.25
Alaska	$11.73
Arizona	$14.35
Arkansas	$11.00
California	$16.00
Colorado	$14.42
Connecticut	$15.69
Delaware	$13.25
Florida	$13.00 (effective Sept. 30, 2024)
Georgia	$7.25
Hawaii	$14.00
Idaho	$7.25
Illinois	$14.00
Indiana	$7.25
Iowa	$7.25
Kansas	$7.25
Kentucky	$7.25
Louisiana	$7.25
Maine	$14.15
Maryland	$15.00
Massachusetts	$15.00
Michigan	$10.33
Minnesota	$8.85 for small employers and $10.85 for large employers
Mississippi	$7.25
Missouri	$12.30
Montana	$10.30
Nebraska	$12.00
Nevada	$12.00 (effective July 1, 2024)
New Hampshire	$7.25
New Jersey	$15.13 for most employers; $13.73 for seasonal and small employers who have less than six workers.
New Mexico	$12.00
New York	$16.00 for New York City, Long Island and Westchester; $15.00 for the rest of the state.
N. Carolina	$7.25
North Dakota	$7.25
Ohio	$10.45
Oklahoma	$7.25
Oregon	$1.25 over the standard minimum wage for employers in the Portland metro; $1 less than the standard minimum wage for non-urban counties. ** (Effective July 1, 2024)
Pennsylvania	$7.25
Rhode Island	$14.00
S. Carolina	$7.25
South Dakota	$11.20
Tennessee	$7.25
Texas	$7.25
Utah	$7.25
Vermont	$13.67
Virginia	$12.00
Wash, DC	$17.00
Washington	$16.28
West Virginia	$8.75
Wisconsin	$7.25
Wyoming	$7.25

It’s complicated.

Although the minimum wage issue seems straightforward. Check your state’s department of labor website for current information on the minimum wage in that state, and its exceptions to the rule. Then, you will need expert help from a labor attorney or other qualified specialist when you believe your wage, or a job offer, does not meet legal requirements.

The laws can be complex, and have numerous exceptions. For example, the minimum wage for most of New York State is now $15 per hour, but it is $16 per hour in New York City, Westchester County, and Long Island (Nassau and Suffolk counties).

The situation in Oregon is even more confusing. According to Paycom, the minimum is “$1.25 over the standard minimum wage for employers in the Portland metro; $1 less than the standard minimum wage for non-urban counties.” (Effective July 1, 2024)

Additionally, many states have exceptions for “tip workers” in the restaurant and other industries. A few states even have minimum wages on the books that are below the Federal Government’s minimum, although the Federal minimum will apply much of the time. The bottom line is that you cannot rely on this blog, or any other blog, for a definitive answer when you need one. Consult a lawyer about your specific circumstances.