Millions of American workers got automatic raises on New Year’s Day. According to a report
from the National Employment Law Project, 21 states and 35 cities and counties started off 2022 by hiking their minimum wage.
In two of those states — New York and California — and in 31 cities and counties, the minimum wage rose to $15 per hour or more for some or all workers as of Jan. 1. And by the end of 2022, 44 cities and counties will have minimum wages that exceed $15 per hour for at least some workers, the report says.
Those 44 places are:
- Arizona: Flagstaff
- California: Alameda, Belmont, Berkeley, Burlingame, Cupertino, Daly City, East Palo Alto, El Cerrito, Emeryville, Fremont, Half Moon Bay, Hayward, Los Altos, Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, Malibu, Menlo Park, Milpitas, Mountain View, Novato, Oakland, Palo Alto, Pasadena, Petaluma, Redwood, Richmond, San Carlos, San Francisco, San Jose, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Santa Monica, Santa Rosa, Sonoma, South San Francisco, Sunnyvale, West Hollywood
- Colorado: Denver
- Washington, D.C.
- Illinois: Chicago
- Maryland: Montgomery County
- Washington: SeaTac, Seattle
In eight states including New York, Massachusetts and Illinois, the minimum wage hikes were part of scheduled increases with an end goal of $15 per hour. Minimum wage increases in eight other states, including Arizona, Maine and Ohio, were triggered as part of automatic cost of living adjustments that are tied to inflation.
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