The new year brings a host of new state wage and hour laws. Employers should take note that as of January 1, 2022, almost half of U.S. states increased their minimum wage rate. As a result, 30 states and the District of Columbia now have minimum wage rates higher than the federal minimum wage, which has remained at $7.25 per hour for over a decade.
Some examples of new minimum wage rates that went into effect January 1 (or will at some point in 2022), include:
| New Jersey | $13.00 |
| Delaware | $10.50 |
| District of Columbia | $15.20 |
| Virginia | $11.00 |
| Illinois | $12.00 |
| Minnesota | $10.33 |
| Washington | $14.49 |
| California | $15.00 (for employers with 26 or more employees; those with fewer employees must pay $14.00 per hour) |
It is important to note that many states have exceptions to their minimum wage rates for a variety of workers, including but not limited to employees of small businesses, farm workers, and tipped employees. Also, some states impose different minimum wages in different locations. For example, effective December 31, 2021, employees in New York City employed by business with 10 or fewer employees must receive $15.00 per hour, which is the rate that already applied to larger employers in New York City. Workers in New York's Nassau, Suffolk, and Westchester counties must also receive $15 an hour in 2022. The minimum wage in the rest of New York state is generally $13.20 per hour, although workers at certain fast food restaurants must...
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