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.
July 2, 2026
Here’s the Scoop: Ice Cream Costs 58% More in High Wage States
Nothing says summer like an ice cream cone, but depending on where you live, that scoop may cost a lot more than you expect. A review of single-scoop ice cream…
June 26, 2026
A $25 Minimum Wage Proposal Ignores the Evidence
This week, Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) introduced legislation that would raise the federal minimum wage to $25 an hour by 2031 for large businesses, more than tripling the current federal…
Oklahoma
June 19, 2026
Oklahoma Voters Reject $15 Wage Mandate
Oklahoma voters rejected State Question 832 this week by a 10-point margin, striking down a proposal that would have increased the state’s minimum wage to $15 an hour. The…
June 12, 2026
Twenty-Six States and Cities See Higher Minimum Wages on July 1
Coming July 1, 26 states, counties, and cities will be raising minimum wage rates, according to EPI’s latest Minimum Wage Update Chart. Some will also increase additional minimum wage…