WPBN: The New Year hasn’t barely begun, but it’s already sending us the best news it can provide. Beginning January 1, millions of Americans will see their pay jump, as more than 30 states have a federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour.
This figure has not altered in more than 15 years, and with today’s lifestyle and the country’s massive inflation, typical wages are almost impossible to provide for a comfortable living.
As a result, numerous states have elected to institute annual minimum wage increases. For the time being, 30 states have legislation in place that provides wages above the national average, including New York-New Jersey and Connecticut.
The minimum salary rises in 2025
Starting on the first day of 2025, minimum wages in these three places will rise as follows:
- Connecticut: from $15.69 and $16.35 per hour (+0.66).
- In New Jersey, the hourly wage ranges from $15.13 to $15.49 (+0.36).
- New York: $15.00 to $15.50 per hour, with the exception of New York City, Long Island, and Westchester, where it will increase to $16.50 (+$0.50).
Connecticut’s pay growth surpasses $16 per hour, putting the state among the top earners in the US. Similarly, certain parts of New York achieve comparable percentages, cementing their position as leaders in income growth.
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What do you do if your salary does not increase?
The hikes are the result of state laws requiring firms to follow the new minimums in the areas where these measures have been enacted. If your salary is not adjusted appropriately, you can register a complaint.
- Connecticut: via the Department of Labor.
- New York: Call 833-910-4378 or go to the New York Department of Labor website.
- New Jersey: Contact the New Jersey Department of Labor.
If you work in a state that does not enforce state laws and instead uses the federal minimum wage ($7.25 per hour), contact your state’s Department of Labor for more information.
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Why are wages rising?
As we have previously stated, “life is very expensive,” as some would say, and inflation is wreaking havoc on the country’s poorest households, which are already struggling to make ends meet.
With this salary boost, the economic pressure on some families is projected to ease slightly, albeit inflation remains high. Although they may not represent a significant increase, they can assist fill the shopping carts of many workers around the country.
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Will they be the only states to increase their wages?
Other states, such as California and Washington, will raise their workers’ minimum salaries, with hourly rates anticipated at $16.50 and $16.66, respectively.
What should we expect from future pay adjustments?
Inflation is causing chaos for the most disadvantaged families. Many jurisdictions have implemented automatic adjustment methods connected to the consumer price index (CPI) to ensure that workers. For example, beginning in 2026, New York will adapt its pay to the Consumer Price Index for Urban Salaried and Public Employees (CPI-W), ensuring that workers’ wages are not jeopardized during an economic crisis.
Not all states have implemented these wage rise measures yet, but they are expected to be applied shortly in locations where the cost of living is higher than elsewhere, as a viable way to address wage inequality and poverty in these areas.
