Cities and States to Increase Minimum Wages in July

On July 1, 2020, workers in many cities and states across the country are obtaining stronger wage protections.  The hourly minimum wage rate that employers must pay their employees is set to increase in several states including Illinois, Nevada, and Oregon, as well as in various cities such as Chicago, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, San Francisco, and Washington, D.C. 

These increases are crucial for low wage workers as the federal minimum wage has remained stagnant at $7.25 per hour since 2009.  Federal legislation to increase the federal minimum wage to $15.00 per hour has stalled in the Republican-controlled Senate, which means workers will have to continue to depend on their own cities and states to take the lead in passing and implementing laws to ensure that they are adequately compensated. 

The new minimum wage increases that take effect on July 1, 2020, include: 

 
•    Illinois: 
     o    State-wide: $10.00 per hour.
     o    Cook County: $13 per hour.
     o    Chicago (businesses with 21 or more employees): $14.00 per hour.
     o    Chicago (businesses with 20 or fewer employees): $13.50 per hour.

•    Nevada:
     o    State-wide: $9.00 per hour (if no health benefits are offered) or $8.00 per hour (if health benefits are offered).

•    Oregon: 
     o    State-wide: $12.00 per hour.
     o    Non-Urban Counties: $11.50 per hour.
     o    Portland Metro Area: $13.25 per hour.

•    Los Angeles, California: 
     o    Businesses with 26 or more employees: $15.00 per hour.
     o    Businesses with 25 or fewer employees: $14.25 per hour

•    San Francisco, California:
     o     $16.07 per hour.

•    Minneapolis, Minnesota:
     o    Businesses with 101 or more employees: $13.25 per hour.
     o    Businesses with 100 or fewer employees: $11.75 per hour.

•    Washington, D.C.: 
     o    $15.00 per hour.