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.
December 5, 2025
A $20 Minimum Wage Isn’t A Winning Platform
November 28, 2025
A New Year and Another Nationwide Wave of Wage Hikes
As the year comes to a close, states and cities are bracing for a new round of minimum wage hikes that will take effect in the New Year. More than…
November 21, 2025
New Year, New Misguided Wage Hikes
As 2025 comes to a close, states and cities are already gearing up for a new wave of minimum wage proposals that could negatively impact local economies in the year…
New Mexico
November 14, 2025
Two Decades After Its First Wage Hike, Santa Fe Sees Familiar Strains
Santa Fe was one of the first cities in the country to adopt a local minimum wage ordinance, and in many ways it became the early test case for…
November 7, 2025
On Election Day, Olympia Voters Steer Clear of West Coast Wage Hike Woes
Election Day brought mixed results for minimum wage ballot measures across the country. In Olympia, WA, residents voted against a proposed $20 minimum wage hike, which came as part…