What is the minimum wage?
The minimum wage is the starting hourly wage an employer can pay an employee for work. Currently, the federal minimum wage is $7.25 an hour (part of the Fair Labor Standards Act). Some states and cities have raised their minimum wage higher than that. In most instances, the higher of the prevailing minimum wage requirements is binding for employers.
October 2, 2026
Seattle’s $22 Minimum Wage Adds to Restaurant Struggles
Arizona
September 25, 2026
High Minimum Wage Is Squeezing Flagstaff Restaurants
Following a ballot measure to raise Flagstaff’s minimum wage, the mandate for all employees hit $18.35 an hour this year. Federal employment data shows this has hurt the city’s restaurant…
September 18, 2026
NEW STUDY: California’s $20 Fast-Food Wage Hurt Smaller Restaurants
Gov. Gavin Newsom continues to paint California’s $20 fast-food wage as a success, but he appears to be turning a blind eye to the growing evidence of its negative…
September 11, 2026
Minimum Wage Battlegrounds to Watch in 2027
Minimum wage campaigns faced significant pushback this year as efforts to impose higher wage mandates flopped in several states and localities. In Oklahoma, voters struck down a proposal that…
September 2, 2026
California’s Minimum Wage Hikes Leave Restaurant Workers Behind
Last week, Governor Gavin Newsom claimed California is adding jobs while also having some of the highest state minimum wage mandates in the country. However, the overall employment numbers…