California Raises State Minimum Wage to $8.00

The California legislature has passed a bill that will raise the minimum wage paid to workers in that state from $6.75 to $8.00 an hour over the next two years. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is expected to sign the bill which will result in Californians earning the highest minimum wage in the nation, a full $2.75 an hour higher than the federal minimum wage of $5.25.

On Aug. 4, the U.S. Senate refused to consider a bill already passed by the House that would have increased the federal minimum wage from the current $5.15-per-hour to $7.15 by mid-2009.

The federal minimum wage has been set at $5.15 since 1997. By law, the states are allowed to establish their own minimum wages and regulations. Anytime the state minimum wage differs from the federal minimum wage, the higher rate applies. Currently, 18 states and the District of Columbia have minimum wage rates higher than the federal minimum wage.

Also See:
House Votes to Raise Federal Minimum Wage
Senate Downs Federal Minimum Wage Increase
Who Makes Minimum Wage?