59.5 percent will live in a state with a minimum wage above federal wage in 2019
In 2019, the minimum wage rates of at least 21 states and Washington, D.C., will increase. Twelve of the increases are due to voter-approved ballot initiatives, one is due to a voter-approved legislative referral, and eight are due to legislative bills. The number of states could end up being 22, depending on whether Nevada’s minimum wage increases in 2019, which the state labor commissioner will determine in spring 2019.
California, Massachusetts, and Washington will have the highest statewide minimum wages at $12.00. D.C.’s minimum wage will be $14.00. About 59.5 percent of the country’s population, excluding territories, will live in a state with a minimum wage above the federal rate of $7.25. About 32.3 percent will live in a state with a minimum wage of at least $10.10—the federal rate that former President Barack Obama (D) called for in 2013.
Review of changes to state minimum wage laws in 2018
- Arkansas Issue 5: Voters approved the ballot initiative to increase the minimum wage to $9.25 in 2019; $10.00 in 2020; and $11.00 in 2021.
- Missouri Proposition B: Voters approved the ballot initiative designed to increase the minimum wage 85 cents each year until reaching $12.00 in 2022 and, beginning in 2023, index the wage to inflation.
- Delaware Senate Bill 170: Passed on July 1, 2018, SB 170 was set to increase the minimum wage to $9.25 on October 1, 2019.
- Massachusetts House Bill 4640: Struck as a deal between the legislature and the group Raise Up Massachusetts, which was campaigning for a ballot initiative, HB 4640 was designed to increase the minimum wage each year until reaching $15.00 in 2023.
- Michigan Initiative: The state legislature approved the indirect initiative on September 5, 2018. The initiative was designed to increase the minimum wage between 60 and 75 cents each year until reaching $12.00 in 2022. On December 4, the legislature voted to amend the initiative, which would still increase the minimum wage to $12.00 but not until 2030. As of December 13, the bill had been presented to Gov. Rick Snyder (R), who has not said whether he will sign or veto the bill.
Minimum wage and partisan control of state governments
In 2019, 29 states will have minimum wages above the federal minimum wage.
- Of the 14 states that passed increases through legislative votes, 11 states were Democratic trifectas and one was a divided government at the time of passage.
- Of the 15 states that passed increases through ballot measures, none of them were Democratic trifectas. Six were divided governments. Nine were Republican trifectas.
As of 2018, 10 states had passed laws to increase the minimum wage to $12.00 or higher.
- Of the four states that passed increases through legislative votes, three states were Democratic trifectas and one was a divided government at the time of passage.
- Of the six states that passed increases through ballot measures, three were Republican trifectas and three were divided governments.
The following map illustrates the statewide minimum wages that are scheduled to go into effect at some point in 2019:
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