Federal Minimum Wage Increase Takes Effect Today

The Fair Minimum Wage Act of 2007 amended the FLSA to increase the federal minimum wage in three steps. The first step raise to $5.85 per hour is effective today, July 24, 2007. The second raise, to $6.55 per hour, goes into effect July 24, 2008; and the third, to $7.25 per hour, is effective July 24, 2009. Here is a list of the various states' minimum wages:

State	Minimum hourly wage
Alabama	No minimum wage law
Alaska	$7.15
Arizona	$6.75
Arkansas	$6.25
California	$7.501
Colorado	$6.85
Connecticut	$7.65
Delaware	$6.652
District of Columbia	$7.00
Florida	$6.67
Georgia	$5.15
Hawaii	$7.25
Idaho	$5.15
Illinois	$7.503
Indiana	$5.15
Iowa	$6.20
Kansas	$2.65
Kentucky	$5.15
Louisiana	No minimum wage law
Maine	$6.754
Maryland	$6.15
Massachusetts	$7.50
Michigan	$7.155
Minnesota	$6.156
Mississippi	No minimum wage law
Missouri	$6.50
Montana	$6.15
Nebraska	$5.15
Nevada	$6.15
New Hampshire	$5.15
New Jersey	$7.15
New Mexico	$5.15
New York	$7.15
North Carolina	$6.15
North Dakota	$5.15
Ohio	$6.85
Oklahoma	$5.15
Oregon	$7.80
Pennsylvania	$6.25
Rhode Island	$7.40
South Carolina	No minimum wage law
South Dakota	$5.15
Tennessee	No minimum wage law
Texas	$5.15
Utah	$5.15
Vermont	$7.53
Virginia	$5.15
Washington	$7.93
West Virginia	$6.557
Wisconsin	$6.50
Wyoming	$5.15
1= $8 as of Jan. 1, 2008; 2= $7.15 as of Jan. 1, 2008; 3= $7.75 as of July 1, 2008, $8 as of July 1, 2009, $8.25 as of July 1, 2010; 4= $7 as of Oct. 1; 5= $7.40 as of July 1, 2008; 6= $5.25 for small employer; 7= $7.25 as of July 1, 2008 Source: Department of Labor