Minimum Wages Rates

The information below is garnered from http://www.toolkit.com Ask Alice column.

The federal minimum wage increases on July 24, 2009, to $7.25 per hour.

Employers of employees who are subject to both state and federal minimum hourly wage rates will have to comply by paying those employees the greater of the state or federal rates.

Here are the new 2009 rates effective July 24, except as noted:

ALABAMA - $7.25 (was $6.55)
ALASKA - $7.25
ARIZONA - $7.25
ARKANSAS - $7.25 (was $6.55)
CALIFORNIA - $8.00 (except in "living wage" areas).
COLORADO - $7.28
CONNECTICUT - $7.65
DELAWARE - $7.25 (was $7.15)
D.C. - $7.55
FLORIDA - $7.25 (was $7.21)
GEORGIA - $7.25 (was $6.55)
HAWAII - $7.25 per hour.
IDAHO - $7.25 (was $6.55)
ILLINOIS - $8.00 as of 7/1/09 (was $7.75)
INDIANA - $7.25 (was $6.55)
IOWA - $7.25 per hour.
KANSAS - $7.25 (was $6.55)
KENTUCKY - $7.25 7-1-2009
LOUISIANA - $7.25 (was $6.55)
MAINE - $7.25
MARYLAND - $7.25 (was $6.55) (A living wage of $8.30 or $11.30, is applicable to contractors doing business with the state.)
MASSACHUSETTS - $8.00 per hour. (The state minimum wage rate must be at least 10 cents higher than the federal minimum wage rate.)
MICHIGAN - $7.40 per hour.
MINNESOTA - $7.25 (was $6.55)
MISSISSIPPI - $7.25 (was $6.55)
MISSOURI - $7.25 (was $7.05)
MONTANA - $7.25 (was $6.90) - exception for businesses with annual gross sales of $110,000 or less).
NEBRASKA - $7.25 (was $6.55)
NEVADA - $7.25 (was $6.85) (was $6.55 - for employees who do not receive health benefits.(Some exceptions for employers who provide a qualified health plan.)
NEW HAMPSHIRE - $7.25 per hour
NEW JERSEY - $7.25 (was $7.15)
NEW MEXICO - $7.50
NEW YORK - $7.25 (was $7.15) (Watch for wage order increases.)
NORTH CAROLINA - $7.25 (was $6.55)
NORTH DAKOTA - $7.25 (was $6.55)
OHIO - $7.30 per hour.
OKLAHOMA - $7.25 (was $6.55)
OREGON - $8.40
PENNSYLVANIA - $7.25 (was $7.15)
PUERTO RICO - $7.25 (was $6.55)
RHODE ISLAND - $7.40
SOUTH CAROLINA - $7.25 (was $6.55)
SOUTH DAKOTA - $7.25 (was $6.55)
TENNESSEE - $7.25 (was $6.55)
TEXAS - $7.25 (was $6.55)
UTAH - $7.25 (was $6.55)
VERMONT - $8.06
VIRGINIA - $7.25 (was $6.55)
WASHINGTON - $8.55 (Special rate for youth.)
WEST VIRGINIA - $7.25
WISCONSIN - $7.25 (was $6.55)
WYOMING - $7.25 (was $6.55)
As for the federal requirements, the Department of Labor has downloadable posters available here, which explain the rules. Remember, all workplaces, by law, must display this poster for all employees to see.

Be diligent and careful incorporating all these changes into your system. Congress only gets inspired to act on this subject every decade or so, but your individual state might make more frequent revisions. And if you have any more questions, be sure to Ask Alice!