On January 1, 2011, six states (listed below) will increase their minimum wage requirement. Two states—along with American Samoa and the Northern Mariana Islands— elected to keep their current rate. Colorado is considering an increase to the minimum wage which, if passed, will also take effect on January 1, 2011. The federal minimum wage rate remains unchanged at $7.25/hr.

States that are increasing their minimum wage

Arizona
$7.35/hr. Effective January 1, 2011, the Arizona minimum wage will increase from $7.25 to $7.35 per hour. Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 23-363.

Montana
$7.35/hr. Effective January 1, 2011, Montana’s minimum wage will increase from $7.25 to $7.35 per hour. Mont. Code Ann. § 39-3-409.

Ohio
$7.40/hr ($3.70/hr for tipped employees). Effective January 1, 2011, the Ohio minimum wage will increase from $7.25 to $7.40 per hour. Constitution of the State of Ohio, Art. II, § 34a.

Oregon
$8.50/hr. Effective January 1, 2011, there will be an increase to the Oregon minimum wage from $8.40 to $8.50 per hour. Or. Rev. Stat. § 653.025.

Vermont
$8.15/hr ($3.95/hr for tipped employees). Effective January 1, 2011, the Vermont minimum wage will increase from $8.06 to $8.15 per hour. Vt. Stat. Ann. tit. 21, § 384.

Washington
$8.67/hr ($7.37/hr for minors aged 14 to 15 years old). Effective January 1, 2011, the State of Washington increases its minimum wage for the first time in 2 years from $8.55 to $8.67 per hour. Wash. Rev. Code § 49.46.020.

States proposing to increase their minimum wage

Colorado
The Colorado Department of Labor & Employment announced a proposed increase to the state minimum wage (to $7.36/hr; $4.34/hr for tipped employees) which would take effect January 1, 2011 and create a new Minimum Wage Order. Const. of the State of Colorado, Art. XVIII, § 15; Proposed Colorado Minimum Wage Order No. 27.

States that elected not to change the minimum wage

Florida
$7.25/hr. The Florida Agency for Workforce Innovation announced that the state minimum wage will remain unchanged in 2011. Constitution of the State of Florida, Article X, section 24.

Missouri
$7.25/hr. The Missouri Department of Labor announced that the state’s minimum wage will remain the same in 2011. Missouri Revised Statutes §290.502.

American Samoa & Northern Mariana Islands
On September 30, 2010, President Obama signed a bill, H.R. 3940, which delays the minimum wage increases which were scheduled to take effect in American Samoa and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI). The minimum wage in American Samoa varies by industry. The CNMI minimum wage is $5.05 per hour.