For several years in a row, Arkansas’ minimum wage rose on New Year’s Day as part of a gradual increase approved by voters in two statewide elections.
Minimum hourly pay rose incrementally from $6.25 in 2014 to $11 per hour in 2021 as a result of two citizen-initiated state laws. And that’s where the hourly rate will stay without an increase from legislators or another statewide ballot issue.
State legislators begin a new legislative session on January 9. It's unlikely a higher minimum wage will come out of the legislative process. Arkansas lawmakers last approved an increase to the state's minimum wage in 2006, when they increased the rate from $5.15 per hour to $6.25 per hour.
MINIMUM WAGES ACROSS THE COUNTRY
Although Arkansans won’t see a base wage increase in 2023, rates in more than 20 other states will go up, according to Paycor.com, a human resources company in Ohio.
Higher minimums in these states are the result of a recent ballot issues or past decisions to tie minimum wage to inflation or the Consumer Price Index. Eleven states have inflationary requirements, according to the National Conference of State Legislators.
Florida is the only state in the southeast where base pay will increase this year, although Floridians will have to wait until September 30, 2023 to see minimum wage increase from $11 an hour to $12 an hour.
California remains at the top when it comes to minimum wage, where the rate this year increased to $15.50 an hour. (D.C. would be at the top if...
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