In the three states around New York, the minimum wage will go up to start the new year. If you live in this area, find out more about how the minimum wage will go up this year in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut.
Trump, who is going to be president, recently stirred up the minimum wage debate again by saying that the federal minimum wage of $7.25 an hour is too low and that he would think about raising it.
To show this, he used the example of how drastically different living costs are in states like California and Mississippi to show that a single strategy would not work. These comments from a recent interview bring to light the ongoing conflict over wage laws and how they affect businesses and workers across the country.
There are still a lot of problems with these laws, even though some places are working hard to get higher pay floors. Millions of people in the US will have to make at least $7.25 an hour starting on January 1.
This amount has not changed since 2009 and is not enough to cover the cost of living now, which affects millions of American families. Because of this, some US states have chosen to pass laws that raise the minimum wage every year at the state level.
Here’s how much your salary will increase in these states
The lowest-paid worker’s salary has gone up a lot since the pandemic started, going up even faster than the highest-paid worker’s salary.
The federal rate has been $7.25 an hour for the past 15 years, which people in the US should know. But in many states, counties, and towns, the minimum wage has gone up, and is now often much higher than the federal level.
As companies try to find ways to avoid having to pay more for workers, raising the minimum wage often leads to more automation. For example, fast food restaurants are getting rid of cashiers and replacing them with self-service kiosks that do not need overtime, benefits, or breaks.
This change will get rid of entry-level jobs that many low-skilled workers depend on, creating more opportunities for higher-paying jobs in making and maintaining these machines. Robots and artificial intelligence (AI) are slowly replacing people in many jobs, such as customer service and warehouse work.
At the moment, 30 states plus the District of Columbia have laws that set a minimum wage higher than the federal minimum wage. This includes the three New York states: New York City, New Jersey, and Connecticut.
It will go up by $0.50 in New York on January 1, 2025. In New Jersey and Connecticut, it will go up by $0.36 and $0.66, respectively. Here are the minimum salary levels for next year in the New York tri-state area, based on the current salary:
- Connecticut: $15.69 to $16.35 per hour
- New Jersey: from $15.13 to $15.49 per hour
- New York: The salary will increase by 0.50 per hour, which means it will reach $15.50 per hour, except for New York City, Long Island, and Westchester, where it will increase up to $16.50 per hour.
With this new raise, Connecticut’s minimum wage will be higher than $16 an hour by 2025, making it one of the states with the highest minimum wages. It will also be more than $16 in some New York cities.
What should Americans do if their salary doesn’t increase?
The minimum wage has been raised in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut, among other states. If your employer breaks the law, you can file a complaint by:
- Connecticut: CT Department of Labor website.
- New York: Access the New York Department of Labor website
- New Jersey: NJ Department of Labor website
It is important to note that states without their own laws follow the federal minimum wage of $7.25 an hour. Do not forget to check the website for your state’s Department of Labor for more information.