All articles tagged with #federal minimum wage
Almost 24 states and numerous cities are raising their minimum wages in 2026, with most reaching or exceeding $15 per hour, significantly above the federal minimum of $7.25, to help workers cope with inflation and economic challenges.
Nineteen states increased their minimum wage on January 1, affecting over 8 million workers, with Washington, D.C. leading at $17.95 per hour. Several states now have wages above $15, while twenty states still adhere to the federal minimum of $7.25 or have no set minimum wage.
The federal minimum wage in the US has remained at $7.25 an hour since 2009, the longest period without an increase since its creation. The last attempt to raise it to $15 an hour was dropped due to Senate negotiations. A group of Democrat Senators has proposed legislation to raise it to $17 by 2028, but its progress is uncertain with a Republican-controlled House of Representatives. States without a minimum wage or with a matching wage would be most affected by any increase. Research shows that workers in these states are 46% more likely to earn less than $15 an hour compared to the rest of the country.