8 States With The Highest Minimum Wages: 24/7 Wall St.

From 24/7 Wall St.: The highest rate in almost 30 years, nearly one and six Americans lived in poverty last year, according to recently released data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Many states choose to combat poverty rates by increasing the minimum wage. As of this year, 18 states have set a minimum wage higher than the federal minimum of $7.25 per hour, according to the National Employment Law Project (NELP). 24/7 Wall St. examined the eight states with minimum wages of $8.00 or more – at least 10% higher than the federal mandate.

In 2007, the national minimum wage was increased for the first time in a decade, from $5.15 to $5.75. Over the next three years, the federal minimum wage increased each year until 2009, when it hit its current rate of $7.25. NELP reports that eight states will likely raise their rates again in 2012. Washington will become the first state to have a minimum wage above $9.00, though most states will continue to have a minimum wage below $8 per hour.

The states with the highest minimum wages are primarily in New England and on the West coast. They “tend to be those with very high costs of living, or those that allow ballot initiatives — which enable the voters to cut through gridlock and raise the minimum wage on their own,” Paul Sonn, Legal Co-Director of NELP, told 24/7 Wall St. in an email.

Nearly all of states have particularly strong union representation, the kind of motivating force that gets minimum wage legislation passed, according NELP. High cost of living appears to be another driving force for an increased minimum wage. Six of the eight states on the list have among the fifteen highest costs of living in the country.

24/7 Wall St. reviewed minimum wage data by state from NELP to identify the eight states with the highest minimum wage. Median household income values from the U.S. Census Bureau and union membership rates from the Bureau of Labor Statistics was also reviewed. Cost of living data was obtained from the Missouri Department of Economic Development.

These are the states with the highest minimum wage, according to 24/7 Wall St.:

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Comments

[bnshwarmr]

03:34 PM on 10/10/2011

check out where the 21st century meets the 20th. New England and the West Coast. Check out

where more libraries, museums. IQ, well you get the idea. Rep/TP/ vs Democrat

[Jerry Lammers]

12:09 PM on 10/10/2011

The national minimum wage should be $20/hour with no job classifications exempt. This would guarantee the Middle Class a larger fraction of the national INCOME and a more sound economy. As the Clinton years demonstrated, when you put money into the hands of people who have to spend it, the economy flourishes.

[OMEGA MAN]

10:28 AM on 10/10/2011

"While difficult for individual workers, lower wages can make
U.S. industries and companies overall more competitiv­­­­­­e and
allow employers to hire more workers than they would otherwise.
In the long run, that may make the nation more
prosperous­­­­­­." ===== Pathetic. A nation of slave-wage workers
will never be prosperous­­­­­­, but the unethical business owners
who exploit such workers will be very rich. Such countries are
known as Third World Nations.

[jakeriley]

10:10 AM on 10/10/2011

The writer should have included national rank in unemployment numbers.

[Deidentified]

05:14 AM on 10/10/2011

This is a completely useless article. It raises questions about the relationship between the minimum wage and poverty and between the minimum wage and employment, but does nothing to answer them. There's very little data and no analysis, encouraging readers to apply their prejudices and pull conclusions out of their ... ears.

[Hijeetz Mipanz]

10:19 AM on 10/09/2011

All heavily Liberals states with High unemployment and Extremely high costs of living and taxes, you can have them.

[Desuka]

02:18 PM on 10/10/2011

They have high costs of living because people want to live there.

[Nisan Hirsh]

05:13 AM on 10/09/2011

These states also happen to rank pretty highly on the unemployment rates, especially Oregon and California.

[Hijeetz Mipanz]

10:19 AM on 10/09/2011

And high on taxes and cost of living.

[DannyGee]

10:34 AM on 10/10/2011

and Nevada

[ConnieContassa]

05:04 AM on 10/09/2011

Errata to previous comment - U.S. should NOT unwind to conditions of a third world country! We are beyond that and capable to be the best again!

[ConnieContassa]

05:02 AM on 10/09/2011

I agree. The variation of marginal differences among the top min-wages paying states do not make a whole lot of differences in the scheme of things if you are counting on making a "respectful" living with minimum wages. Getting rid of minimum wages is a joke -- is it fair to force someone (whether they matter to you or not) to take pay that insult their dignity as a human being? If you are well to do and build a large house but everywhere else is surrounded by those who struggle to even keep up, how would that help increase your property value or your emotional well being? How happy can you be everyday walking out of my large mansion seeing everyone else struggle? seriously? U.S. should unwind to conditions of a third world country. Keynesian economy is not the solution but ridding minimum wages to rely on corporate responsibility and corporation's self regulations are definite NOT the answer, especially the way our economy is, at this very time!

[David Balmer]

04:32 AM on 10/09/2011

I was the manager of a small B&B in S.F. on Union & Fillmore and loved it, well....at least I thought so. The salary was crap and after 2 years of work I was offered a 2 week unpaid vacation. I fell in love with a Swiss girl there and took advantage of that 2 week vacation, which basically was a good bye vacation. I came to Zürich and never went home again. 22 years now and 6 kids all born here. My first REAL job was with Swissair, after being offered many fitness jobs, dancing, teaching aerobics, stretching etc. When I signed the contract I was shocked! 4 WEEKS PAID VACATION. High salary, 3 months full pay if fired, and the list goes on. I did not have to prove anything or earn it...it is normal here. And we Americans think we got it goin on? Hell....I am 47 years old. I am now with a logistics company at the Zürich airport. 2 people, no boss (he is in Geneva..and could give a hoot about us). The dollar is lower than the Franc now, so lets do this in dollars. My 6000 Francs a month are more than 6400 dollars. After deductions I am paid out 5200 which is actually 5600 dollars a month. I now have 32 dollars an hour. Hello? You are talking about 8, 9 or 10 dollars an hour? Sh.t! I can only scratch my head.

[David Balmer]

04:45 AM on 10/09/2011

Ran out of space, sorry. Also...we get a 13th paycheck in December which doubles my 6000 to 12000 to help pay for taxes. Switzerland is not a part of the EU, so dont even try getting in to that topic. Switzerland is very capitalistic, going for profits, investments, and developing new products. America would be a better place if it was more like Switzerland. The politicians on the right (every country has them) are wealthy and some own big companies, but you know what. They dont even think of trying to screw the workers at the bottom, by lowing their salaries, cutting vacation time etc. It is written in cement here. Untouchable..the rich can get rich, but not at the cost of the workers at the bottom. I now have 5 weeks vacation and there was a group recently trying to get 6 weeks for all. I was like WOW! I dont need it..5 is fine. I am happy with that. I come from Washinton State and have family there too, but they cannot believe what I have going on here. No returning for me!!

[David Balmer]

04:50 AM on 10/09/2011

My oldest son just finished his 4 year apprenticeship and is earning 4500 a month, with 4 weeks vacation...and still living at home. My daughter just finished her 3 year Doctor`s Assistant apprenticeship and is earning the same as her older brother...and yes...still living at home. No college, no debt...actually got paid every month from the company, while studying. Did I paint a nice picture here yet?

[vobox3343]

04:31 PM on 10/10/2011

Quite the picture. You raised successful and smart, albeit moochers, who need to move out from under your roof.

[Jose Soberanes]

03:56 PM on 10/08/2011

LOL!!!! you people are so centered on minimum wage that you forget to concentrate on a career that really make money...Notice what party controls most of these states...

[main945]

04:51 PM on 10/16/2011

What party is that? The ones that control Mississippi. Alabama, Arkansas and the rest of the low income poor states with outside the US companies going in to take advantage of the low wage worker without any benefits who will die young from no health care and relaxed regulations?

[JScott]

09:52 AM on 10/08/2011

Yup Ca. bashers and the RWNM Cali. is only 8th.

[MikeyJaii]

02:24 AM on 10/08/2011

Washington, here I come.

Psh..

[Hijeetz Mipanz]

10:21 AM on 10/09/2011

A little high minimum wage and a lot higher cost of living and Much higher taxes. In the end you'll make a lot less than the other 42 states.

[ReallySmarter]

08:29 PM on 10/07/2011

Wow impressive! All of these add up to, uh, nowhere close to a living wage

[aynrandfan2012]

09:38 PM on 10/07/2011

what is a living wage......in your mind

[Hijeetz Mipanz]

10:22 AM on 10/09/2011

They don't care about ,iving wages when the government will take care of them for Free.

[williamwilliam2]

05:53 PM on 10/07/2011

Minimum wage can not be considered high or low unless you list the alternatives, such as welfare and/or unemployment benefits. Sometimes, more money is available by not working.

[LiberalLee]

08:22 PM on 10/07/2011

"Wage"---payment earned for work done.
Welfare or unemployment---not the same thing.