The minimum wage is the minimum hourly wage an employer can pay an employee for work. The current federal minimum wage is $7.25/hour, however many states, counties, and cities have established their own minimum wage laws.
This quick reference chart outlines the minimum wage rates by state for 2015.
Minimum Wage Rates Chart by State (2015)
|
State |
State Minimum |
Notes |
|
Alabama |
$7.25 |
|
|
Alaska |
$7.75 |
$8.75 as of 2-24-15 |
|
Arizona |
$8.05 |
|
|
Arkansas |
$7.50 |
|
|
California |
$9.00 |
|
|
Colorado |
$8.23 |
|
|
Connecticut |
$9.15 |
|
|
Delaware |
$7.75 |
$8.25 as of 6-1-15 |
|
D.C. |
$9.50 |
$10.50 as of 7-1-15 |
|
Florida |
$8.05 |
|
|
Georgia |
$5.15 |
|
|
Hawaii |
$7.75 |
|
|
Idaho |
$7.25 |
|
|
Illinois |
$8.25 |
|
|
Indiana |
$7.25 |
|
|
Iowa |
$7.25 |
|
|
Kansas |
$7.25 |
|
|
Kentucky |
$7.25 |
|
|
Louisiana |
$7.25 |
|
|
Maine |
$7.50 |
|
|
Maryland |
$8.00 |
$8.25 as of 7-1-15 |
|
Massachusetts |
$9.00 |
|
|
Michigan |
$8.15 |
|
|
Minnesota |
$8.00 / $6.50 Large employers / Small employers |
Large employers are defined as enterprises with annual receipts of $500,000 or more. |
|
Mississippi |
$7.25 |
|
|
Missouri |
$7.65 |
|
|
Montana |
$8.05 / $4.00 Large employers / Small employers |
Large employers are defined as enterprises with gross annual sales of greater than $110,000. |
|
Nebraska |
$8.00 |
State minimum wage applicable to employers with 4+ employees |
|
Nevada |
$8.25 / $7.25 No health insurance provided / Health insurance provided |
|
|
New Hampshire |
$7.25 |
|
|
New Jersey |
$8.38 |
|
|
New Mexico |
$7.50 |
|
|
New York |
$8.75 |
$9.00 as of 12-31-15 |
|
North Carolina |
$7.25 |
|
|
North Dakota |
$7.25 |
|
|
Ohio |
$8.10 / $7.25 Large employers / Small employers |
Large employers are defined as employers with annual gross receipts of $297,000 or more. |
|
Oklahoma |
$7.25 / $2.00 Large employers / Small employers |
Large employers are defined as 10+ full time employees at any one location and employers with annual gross sales over $100,000 irrespective of number of full time employees. |
|
Oregon |
$9.25 |
|
|
Pennsylvania |
$7.25 |
|
|
Rhode Island |
$9.00 |
|
|
South Carolina |
$7.25 |
|
|
South Dakota |
$8.50 |
|
|
Tennessee |
$7.25 |
|
|
Texas |
$7.25 |
|
|
Utah |
$7.25 |
|
|
Vermont |
$9.15 |
|
|
Virginia |
$7.25 |
|
|
Washington |
$9.47 |
|
|
West Virginia |
$8.00 |
$8.75 as of 12-31-15 |
|
Wisconsin |
$7.25 |
|
|
Wyoming |
$5.15 |
|
Chart Source: U.S. Dept. of Labor. Rates current as of January 7, 2015.
* About the Minimum Wage in Your State
It is important to note that where an employee is subject to both the state and federal minimum wage laws, the employee is entitled to the higher minimum wage rate.
Also, there are various minimum wage exceptions apply under specific circumstances to:
- workers with disabilities
- full-time students
- youth under age 20 in their first 90 consecutive calendar days of employment
- tipped employees
- student-learners
To learn more about these exceptions, see this Q&A resource from the DOL.
Finally, cities and counties may have minimum wage laws that are higher than the state or federal minimum wage.
What questions do you have about the minimum wage in your state? Leave a comment below.
