Federal Minimum Wage Increases to $7.25 per Hour

Good news today for low wage workers. The federal minimum wage increases today from $6.55 to $7.25 per hour. That is a big increase, but it still leaves many working families at or below the poverty level. Our friends at Workplace Fairness explain:

With this new increase to $7.25 an hour, a full-time worker still only earns $15,080 a year. At the nationwide work-week average of 33 hours, the worker would earn only $12,441. The United States government sets the poverty level at $10,830 for one person or $22,050 for a family of four in 48 states and D.C. A worker who is above this low poverty level would not be eligible for certain welfare-related assistance. Thereby, the new federal minimum wage will just barely put many Americans above the poverty level, exempting them from certain assistance, yet barely allowing them to live comfortably.

You can find more information on the federal minimum wage increase here. California minimum wage remains unchanged at $8.00 per hour.