TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) - Wages will be increasing for millions of low-income workers across the U.S. as the new year ushers in new laws in numerous states. That includes a 21-cent boost to the minimum wage in Florida.
New minimum wage requirements will take effect in 20 states and nearly two dozen cities.
The state wage hikes range from an extra nickel per hour in Alaska to a $1-an-hour bump in Maine, Massachusetts and for California employers with more than 25 workers.
Seattle's largest employers will have to pay workers at least $16 an hour starting Tuesday. That's more than twice the federal minimum wage of $7.25 an hour.
In Missouri and Arkansas, minimum wages are rising as a result of voter-approved ballot initiatives.
The wage increases come amid a multi-year push by unions and liberal advocacy groups to raise the minimum wage nationwide.
The federal minimum wage of $7.25 an hour has remained the same since 2009. Since then, 29 states and the District of Columbia have set minimum wages above the federal level. Here's a look at states exceeding the federal minimum wage, with their current wage and, where applicable, the new one:
-Alaska: current $9.84, new $9.89
-Arizona: current $10.50, new $11
-Arkansas: current $8.50, new $9.25
-California, more than 25 employees: current $11, new $12
-California, 25 or fewer employees: current $10.50, new $11
-Colorado: current $10.20, new $11.10
-Connecticut: current $10.10
-Delaware: current $8.25, new $8.75
-District of Columbia: current $13.25
-Florida: current $8.25, new $8.46
-Hawaii: current $10.10
-Illinois: current $8.25
-Maine: current $10, new $11
-Maryland: current: $10.10
-Massachusetts: current $11, new $12
-Michigan: current $9.25, new $9.45
-Minnesota: current $9.65, new $9.86
-Missouri, current: $7.85, new $8.60
-Montana: current $8.30, new $8.50
-Nebraska: current $9
-Nevada: current $8.25
-New Jersey: current $8.60, new $8.85
-New Mexico: current $7.50
-New York: current: $10.40, new $11.10
-Ohio, current $8.30, new $8.55
-Oregon: current $10.75
-Rhode Island: current $10.10, new $10.50
-South Dakota: current $8.85, new $9.10
-Vermont, current $10.50, new $10.78
-Washington, current $11.50, new $12
-West Virginia, current $8.75
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