Which States Pay The Most For Jobs? Minimum Wages Rates Compared

Seventeen states and Washington, D.C., raised their minimum wages last year, and they all saw wage growth increase at twice the speed of states where the minimum wage remained flat, according to a report from the Economic Policy Institute released Wednesday.

Low-income workers in these 17 states saw 5.2 percent wage growth from 2015 to 2016. In comparison, low-income workers who lived in states that did not raise their minimum wages only experienced 2.5 percent wage growth.

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Below is a list of 10 states that have the highest minimum wages; many of them raised their minimum wage last year, and will continue to do so by increments over the next few years.

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10. In Oregon, the current standard minimum wage is $9.75, and $9.50 in non-urban counties. The state in on track to raise minimum wage in 2022 to: $14.75 in Portland; $13.50 as the standard rate for the rest of the state; and $12.50 in non-urban counties.

9. In Alaska, the minimum wage rose from $9.75 to $9.80 at the beginning of 2017.

8. In Arizona, the minimum wage is $10.

7. In Vermont, the minimum wage is $10; next year, it will increase to $10.50.

6. In Connecticut, the minimum wage is $10.10.

5. In California, the minimum wage is currently $10.50. The state plans to increase minimum wage to $15 for all business at the start of 2023.

4. In Massachusetts, the minimum wage is currently $11 per hour.

3. In New York, the current minimum wage is $11, and it’s on track to rise to $15 for New York City in 2019; $15 for Long Island and Westchester in 2021; and $12.50 for the rest of the state in 2020.

2. In Washington state, the minimum wage is also $11. The state will increase minimum wage to $13.50 by 2020, and Seattle will raise its minimum to $15 by 2022.

1. In Washington, D.C., the minimum wage is currently $11 — that will increase annually until it reaches $15 in 2020.