As of January 2024, the federal minimal wage stands at merely $7.25 per hour no matter requires a $15 minimal wage.

In line with our evaluation, the very best 5 cities in america with the easiest minimal wage as of 2024 are:

• Tukwila, Wash.
• Seattle, Wash.
• SeaTac, Wash.
• Mountain View, Calif.
• Emeryville, Calif.

The Push for Bigger Minimal Wages

Since its peak in 1968, the minimal wage relative to inflation and the value of residing has fallen steadily. Earlier to the early 2010s, few states and municipalities had minimal wages significantly bigger than the federal minimal wage. This modified when minimal wage workers received right here collectively to unfold consciousness about their plight.

These consciousness campaigns have been extraordinarily worthwhile, drawing assist from high-profile activists. These activists have since effectively pushed native governments in a variety of cities to mandate bigger minimal wages that enable workers to be self-sufficient.

1. Tukwila, WA

As of January 2024, the minimal wage in Tukwila was $20.29 per hour for large employers and $18.29 for mid-sized employers.

Large employers are these with larger than 500 employees worldwide. Mid-size employers are these with 15 to 500 worldwide or revenue of larger than $2 million earned in Tukwila.

In July 2024, the minimal wage paid to employees at mid-sized firms will rise to $19.29. The velocity of $20.29 paid by huge employers will not be going to rise in the intervening time.

Tukwila’s minimal wage is adjusted for inflation yearly.

2. Seattle, WA

As of January 2024, the minimal wage in Seattle was $19.97 per hour. A lower worth of $17.25 applies if a small enterprise (with 500 or fewer employees) pays $2.72 per hour in direction of medical benefits for employees or an employee earns $2.72 per hour in concepts.

In June 2014, Seattle made historic previous when its metropolis council signed into regulation a mandate to raise the minimal wage for all workers inside the metropolis to $15 per hour. The city grew to grow to be the first inside the U.S. to have a $15 minimal wage. In the meanwhile, no totally different metropolis had a minimal wage that was even shut.

In 2023, every huge and small firms paid a minimal wage of $18.69 per hour. A lower worth of $16.50 utilized if a small enterprise paid $2.19 per hour in direction of medical benefits for employees or the employee earned $2.19 per hour in concepts.

Seattle’s minimal wage is adjusted for inflation yearly.

3. SeaTac, WA

As of January 2024, the minimal wage in SeaTac was $19.71 per hour.

That worth is simply obtainable to employees working inside the metropolis’s hospitality and transportation industries. Other than these workers, SeaTac’s fundamental minimal wage is analogous as a result of the state minimal wage, which is $16.28 per hour.

SeaTac’s minimal wage is adjusted for inflation yearly.

4. Mountain View, CA

As of January 2024, the minimal wage in Mountain View was $18.75 per hour.

Mountain View established its private minimal wage on Jan. 1, 2015, at $10.30 per hour. It was set to rise by a specified amount yearly until it reached $15 in 2018.

Since 2019, Mountain View’s minimal wage has been adjusted for inflation yearly.

5. Emeryville, CA

As of July 2023, the minimal wage in Emeryville was $18.67. It is set to rise as soon as extra in July 2024.

When Emeryville established its minimal wage ordinance on July 2, 2015, there have been two minimal wage ranges. These have been $12.25 per hour for employees as a lot as 55 years earlier and $14.44 per hour for these no youthful than 56 years earlier. By 2019, the age courses not utilized.

Emeryville’s minimal wage worth is adjusted for inflation yearly.

Quite a few states have handed funds that may lastly put all cities of their jurisdictions at $15 or further per hour. Employees in just a few of those cities should wait only a few years to be taught from the model new minimal wage authorized tips completely.

As an illustration, Florida residents voted in November 2020 to increase the state’s minimal wage incrementally (beginning at $10 per hour on Sept. 30, 2021) until it reaches $15 per hour in September 2026. As of January 2024, it is $12 per hour.

Totally different states have minimal wages above the federal diploma, with 22 of those states rising their wages extra in 2024.

The Bottom Line

The federal minimal wage of $7.25 has not elevated since 2009 and is now too low to allow for households to reside above the poverty line.

Attributable to requires from workers, many states, cities, and municipalities have a minimal wage above the federal worth. There continues to be a push to increase the federal minimal wage to $15, however it has been met with essential resistance.