Minimum wage set to rise in 15 cities and states in July. Here’s where.
July 1 marks the date when hundreds of thousands of workers in over a dozen cities and states will see an increase in their minimum wage. This initiative will provide a much-needed financial boost to more than 800,000 workers in Alaska, Oregon, and Washington, D.C., as well as in various cities and counties across the country. The move comes at a time when the federal minimum wage has remained stagnant at $7.25 an hour since 2009, prompting states and municipalities to take action to address the rising cost of living.
According to the Economic Policy Institute (EPI), the average increase in annual wages for a full-time, year-round worker resulting from these minimum wage hikes ranges from $420 in Oregon to $925 in Alaska. The impact will be significant, particularly for women, Black, and Hispanic workers, who will disproportionately benefit from these pay raises.
While the federal minimum wage has not seen an increase in 16 years, there have been efforts to change this, with Senator Josh Hawley and Senator Peter Welch introducing legislation to raise the national baseline wage to $15 per hour. In the meantime, states like Alaska, D.C., and Oregon are taking matters into their own hands by implementing higher minimum wages.
Pay hikes in Alaska, D.C., and Oregon
Alaska’s minimum wage will increase by $1.09 to $13.00 an hour, impacting 6.3% of the workforce. In Washington, D.C., 7.5% of workers will benefit from a 45-cent raise to $17.95 an hour. Oregon’s minimum wage will rise by 35 cents to $15.05 an hour, benefiting 9.4% of the state’s workforce.
Where else are workers getting raises?
In addition to Alaska, D.C., and Oregon, several cities and counties in California, Illinois, and Maryland will also see minimum wage increases starting July 1:
- Alameda, California: $17.46
- Berkeley, California: $19.18
- Emeryville, California: $19.90
- Fremont, California: $17.75
- Los Angeles, California: $17.87
- Los Angeles County, California: $17.81
- Milpitas, California: $18.20
- Pasadena, California: $18.04
- San Francisco, California: $19.18
- Santa Monica, California: $17.81
- Chicago, Illinois: $16.60
- Montgomery County, Maryland: $17.65
