2016 minimum wage hikes: Was your state impacted?

While the push to increase the federal minimum wage continues, a significant number of states and municipalities have taken it upon themselves to bump up pay on the local level this year.  

Here are the 14 states that increased their minimum wage as of January 1, 2016:

1. Alaska — $9.75 (up from $8.75)
2. Arkansas — $8.00 (up from $7.50)
3. California — $10.00 (up from $9.00)
4. Colorado — $8.31 (up from $8.23)
5. Connecticut — $9.60 (up from $9.15)
6. Hawaii — $8.50 (up from $7.75)
7. Massachusetts — $10.00 (up from $9.00)
8. Michigan — $8.50 (up from $8.15)
9. Nebraska — $9.00 (up from $8.00)
10. New York — $9.00 (up from $8.75)
11. Rhode Island — $9.60 (up from $9.00)
12. South Dakota — $8.55 (up from $8.50)
13. Vermont — $9.60 (up from $9.15)
14. West Virginia — $8.75 (up from $8.00)

On top of the 14 states listed above, a number of states will raise their minimum wage rates at different points throughout the year. Maryland’s rate will increase to $8.75/hr (from $8.25) beginning on July 1, 2016 and, starting August 1, 2016, the minimum wage for large firms and small firms in Minnesota will jump to $9.50 (up from $9.00) and $7.75 (up from $7.25), respectively. Plus, the minimum wage in Washington, DC will increase to $11.50 (up from $10.50) on July 1, 2016.

Other local wage hikes

In addition to state-wide minimum wage increases, a number of municipalities and counties raised their minimum wage rate as of Jan. 1 or plan to at some point during the year. By far, California has the most increases on this level, with 11 locations seeing increases in 2016.

One California city in particular where the minimum wage is well above the national average will is Emeryville, CA. On July 1, 2016, the minimum wage in Emeryville will be somewhere between $13.00 to $14.82 (depending on the employer’s size). That’s up from the already high $12.25 to $14.44 range that it is currently set at.