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The Minimum Wage: Information, Opinion, Research
States consider reducing the minimum wage for certain categories of
workers. February 2010
Minimum Wage Laws in the States. U.S. Department of Labor
A clickable map with up-to-date information on the states' minimum
wages.
Changes in state minimum wages for selected years, 1968-2006. U.S. Department of Labor
A table covering a great deal of minimum wage history and variation
among the states.
2008 State Minimum Wage Bills. The National Conference of State Legislatures
Descriptions of all bills in state legislatures during 2008 related
to minimum wages.
Lower Living Standard Income Level Guidelines
Unlike the federal poverty threshholds that are set by family size
for the nation as a whole, the LLSIL numbers show the family low-income threshholds for different regions. The guidelines
are used to establish eligibility for workforce training programs and are informative about not only regional but urban-vs-rural
costs of living.
The Self-Sufficiency Standard
The home page for a series of state reports analyzing the current
living costs by county for families of different sizes with children of varying ages.
Variations
State minimum wage laws make headlines most often for the news about increases and occasionally about indexing
(annual adjustments for inflation). But many state regulations include lesser-known and interesting provisions. Here
is a guide to some of them. (The detailed "wage orders" or "wage and hour laws" for each state can usually be found
by entering those terms in a search engine. On "Indexing," see the page on this site.)
NEW JERSEY, instead of indexing its minimum wage, has established a minimum wage commission to recommend annual
changes.
ILLINOIS and MICHIGAN are among the few states that set sub-minimum wages for teenagers by age, regardless of whether
or not they are students or apprenctices.
Most states follow federal law in allowing employers to pay a lower minimum wage to employees who receive tips, as long
as this lower minimum plus the tips add up to the minimum wage or more. As this table from the U.S. Department of Labor
shows, the amount of the wage reduction--the tip credit--usually runs between 40 and 50 percent of the state's full minimum
wage. But some are higher or lower, CONNECTICUT and NEW YORK have different tip credits for several
different occupations, and seven states have no tip credit at all, allowing food servers to make a full wage plus tips.
NEVADA'S 2006 constitutional amendment prescribes two minimum wages according to whether the employer provides health
benefits or not.
The federal minimum law does not cover workers in businesses with proceeds under $500,000 (unless the business is involved
in interstate commerce). Many states similarly exempt employees in small businesses. But MINNESOTA, MONTANA, and
OKLAHOMA have established separate, lower minimum wages for small-business employees.
LOUISIANA, along with ALABAMA, MISSISSIPPI, SOUTH CAROLINA, and TENNESSEE, have no minimum wage law of any
kind. Federal minimum wages and coverage are in effect.
MASSACHUSETTS, among other states, allows employers to reduce minimum wages if they provide meals and lodging for employees.
AMERICAN SAMOA sets different minimum wages for 17 different industries, from stevedoring at the high end down to garment
manufacturing.
Colorado minimum wage to drop as living costs fall. Associated Press
The Denver-area consumer price index has dropped .6 per cent. October 2009
New Jersey's Raise the Wage Campaign
A campaign to raise the minimum wage to $8.50 with indexing and a strong
tip wage, in the state with the 4th highest cost of living.
Legislation Pushed to Require Minimum Wage for Domestic Workers. Steven Greenhouse
From the New York Times, coverage of proposed New York State legislation
to provide a $14 minimum wage and other labor protection for nannies and housekeepers. June 2007
The Florida Minimum Wage After One Year. H. Luke Shaefer and Bruce Nissen
Florida ACORN commissioned this 2006 report that finds mostly benefits in the state's minimum wage increases.
Minimum Wage Indexing Costs Jobs. Employment Policies Institute
The hardships posed by recent increases. January 2009
As the cost of living sinks, Oregonians hold the state's minimum wage
level and reflect on the link beween a high state minimum wage and very high state unemployment. September and July 2009
Vermont Livable Wage Campaign
The state campaign for a stronger minimum wage and other economic
measures.
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