|
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.
State Minimum Wage Legislation. The National Conference of State Legislatures
A table of state legislation related to the minimum wage as of
October 2006.
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.
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
Let Justice Roll Hails New State Victories
A press release that also cites a growing list of business owners in
all states who have signed on to support minimum wage increases. April 2007
Cherokee Nation minimum wage in second phase. Sequoyah County Time
The minimum rises to $8.25 for employees of Cherokee Nation companies in Oklahoma. October 2007
Restaurants challenge proposed tip credit change. Seacoastonline
In Maine, a proposed reduction in the share of the tips that restaurants
can count toward paying their waiters prompts the owners to run the numbers as they show how unfair the change would
be. December 2007
Higher Ed Groups Weigh In On Minimum Wage Debate. Charles Dervarics
Minimum wage increases for college students in conflict with fixed
federal work-study funding. From Diverse, April 2007
California: Traffic Court Community Service Violates Minimum Wage Law. thenewspaper.com
The rate at which traffic tickets are paid off through community work
is contested. January 2008
Florida Finds Little Trauma, Drama from Wage Hike. Frank Langfit
From National Public Radio, a visit to Florida two years after it raised and indexed its minimum wage finds
that neither the disasters nor the benefits that were anticipated have materialized. December 2006
Maine committee to consider two-step wage increase. Associated Press
To $8.40 in 2009. November 2007
Vermont Livable Wage Legislation
From Vermont's Livable Wage Campaign, information about the process
and the issues surrounding the minimum wage in a state that became the fourth to index it.
|
