John Stewart
Wed, 01/05/2022
Happy New Year! The federal minimum wage ($7.25 per hour) may not have gone up, but on January 1, 2022, new state minimum wage laws took effect around the country, including in the following states:
- Arizona’s minimum wage increased to $12.80 per hour, with Flagstaff’s local minimum wage increasing to $15.50 per hour;
- California’s minimum wage increased to $15.00 per hour for employers with fewer than 50 employees, $15.50 per hour for employers with 50 or more employees, and even higher for “Hotel” employees ($17.64 per hour) and certain localities;
- Colorado’s minimum wage increased to $12.56 per hour, with Denver’s local minimum wage increasing to $15.87 per hour;
- Delaware’s minimum wage increased to $10.50 per hour;
- Illinois’s minimum wage increased to $12.00 per hour—but take note that the local minimum wages in Chicago ($15.00) and Cook County ($13.00) did not increase on January 1, 2022, but are higher than the baseline Illinois minimum wage where applicable;
- Maine’s minimum wage increased to $12.75 per hour, with Portland’s local minimum wage increasing to $13.00 per hour;
- Maryland’s minimum wage increased to $12.20 per hour for employers with fewer than 15 employees and $12.50 per hour for employers with more than 15 employees—but take note that although the local minimum wages in Montgomery County did not increase on January 1, 2022, they exceed the statewide rates and, depending on employer size, can be as high as $15.00 per hour;
- Massachusetts’s minimum wage increased to $14.25 per hour;
- Michigan’s minim wage increased to $9.87 per hour;
- Minnesota’s minimum wage increased to $10.33 per hour for large employers and $8.42 for small employers;
- Missouri’s minimum wage increased to $11.15 per hour;
- Montana’s minim wage increased to $9.20 per hour;
- New Jersey’s minimum wage increased to $13.00 per hour for employers with more than 5 employees and $11.90 per hour for employers with five or fewer employees;
- New Mexico’s minimum wage increased to $11.50 per hour;
- Ohio’s minimum wage increased to $9.30 per hour;
- Rhode Island’s minimum wage increased to $12.75 per hour;
- South Dakota’s minimum wage increased to $9.95 per hour;
- Vermont’s minimum wage increased to $12.55 per hour;
- Virginia’s minimum wage increased to $11.00 per hour;
- Washington’s minimum wage increased to $14.49 per hour, with Seattle’s local minimum wage increasing to $17.27 per hour and SeaTac’s local minimum wage for hospitality and transportation employees increasing to $17.54 per hour.
In addition, as of a day earlier, December 31, 2021, New York increased its minimum wage to $13.20 per hour, except for New York City and certain counties, where higher baseline minimum wage rates apply. Additionally, for certain industries, such as fast food and hospitality service workers, an even higher minimum wage rates apply.
Also note that even if a state or local minimum wage did not increase on January 1, 2022, it may still exceed the federal minimum wage. See, e.g., District of Columbia ($14.20 per hour).
If you think your employer has not been paying you the lawful minimum wage, please contact us by phone at 202-833-8855 or by email at info@mselaborlaw.com.
