26 states to increase minimum wages for the 2022

Minimum wage is always a topic of discussion for law makers and basically everyone that is making it. A ton of retailers and other industries increased the minimum wage last year due to a wave of activism regarding a number of different issues. The federal rate of minimum wage, which is really uncommon to be the precedent as most states like to keep their individual rates higher is $7.25 per hour. That is just $290 per week before taxes hit on a 40 hour work week.

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, there are five states that do not require a minimum wage: Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, and Tennessee.

These states are raising minimum wages:

Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Vermont, Virginia, Washington

Hawaii is not on the list as the minimum rate is still much higher than the Federal rate. However, when you compare it to a state like Montana where the minimum rate is now $9.20, you have to stop and think. There is still a bill on the table to raise Hawaii to $12.00 per hour but it will likely fail as paying employees more during a pandemic is not very appetizing.