Twenty-two states rang in the new year with higher minimum wages, and a handful of workers are now guaranteed more than double the federal floor of $7.25 an hour.
The changes, which took effect January 1, lifted pay for roughly 9 million workers nationwide, according to estimates from the Economic Policy Institute.
The gap between states has never been wider.
Washington leads the pack at $16.66 an hour, followed by California at $16.50, Connecticut at $16.35, and New York City workers at $16.50.
Tipped workers in several of those states also saw their sub-minimum wage rise, though restaurant groups warn menu prices could creep up to cover the difference.
At the other end, 20 states still use the federal $7.25 rate or have no state minimum at all, leaving workers in places like Georgia, Wyoming, and Tennessee earning the same floor set back in 2009.
A full-time worker at that rate grosses about $15,080 a year before taxes.
If you live in a state that didn't budge, the calendar matters.
Thirteen states including Florida, Nevada, Oregon, and Colorado adjust their rates later in the year, some tied to inflation.
Florida's minimum rises to $14 in September on its way to $15 by 2026.
Delaware workers get $15.00 starting January 1 of next year.
For job seekers, the practical move is to check your state labor department's website rather than trusting an old sign in the break room.
Employers are required to post the current rate, but third-party job listings often carry stale numbers.
If your paycheck doesn't reflect the new rate for hours worked after January 1, you can file a wage complaint with your state's labor office, usually at no cost.
Renters and budgeters should also watch how raises ripple through local economies.
When Arizona's minimum climbed to $14.70, some Phoenix fast-food chains trimmed hours rather than raise prices.
Economists remain split on whether higher floors push inflation or simply shift money from corporate margins to paychecks, but for workers earning the floor, the effect is immediate.
One more wrinkle: cities can set their own rates above the state level.
Seattle, Denver, San Francisco, and dozens of smaller municipalities now sit above $17 an hour.
If you work in one of those cities but live elsewhere, your employer still owes you the city rate.
Our take: the state-by-state patchwork is a headache for anyone juggling multiple jobs or moving across a border, and it's a reminder to verify your own pay stub instead of assuming payroll got it right.
Final Thoughts
A five-minute check against your state's published rate could be the easiest raise you earn this year.