HC Deb 31 March 1995 vol 257 cc824-6W
Mr. Mackinlay

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what information is held by his Department about the minimum wage levels operating in Washington DC and the 50 states of the United States of America. [16927]

Mr. Oppenheim

[holding answer 29 March 1995]: The information is given is the following table. The federal minimum wage is currently $4.25 an hour and has been since 1 April 1991. Figures in the table set out the minimum hourly wage rates under state laws.

USA: minimum and subminimum hourly wage rates under state laws (subminimum wage rates applicable only to learners or apprentices)
State* Minimum wage rate ($) Subminimum wage rate ($)
Alabama none none
Alaska 4.75 175 per cent.
Arizona none none
Arkansas 4.5 none
California 4.25 2, 385 per cent.
Colorado 33.00 none
Connecticut 4.27 485 per cent.
Delaware 4.25 none

USA: minimum and subminimum hourly wage rates under state laws (subminimum wage rates applicable only to learners or apprentices)
State* Minimum wage rate ($) Subminimum wage rate ($)
District of Columbia* 5.25 144.25
Florida none none
Georgia 3.25 none
Hawaii 6.25 15
Idaho 4.25 16
Illinois 4.25 570 per cent.
Indiana 3.35 none
Iowa 4.65 none
Kansas 2.65 15
Kentucky 4.25 none
Louisiana none none
Maine 4.25 16
Maryland 4.25 none
Massachusetts 4.25 6
Michigan 3.35 none
Minnesota 74.25 6
Mississippi none none
Missouri 4.25 185 per cent.
Montana 194.25 none
Nebraska 4.25 175 per cent.
Nevada 4.25 none
New Hampshire 4.25 175 per cent.
New Jersey 5.05 15
New Mexico 4.25 none
New York 4.25 15
North Carolina 4.25 190 per cent.
North Dakota 4.25 9
Ohio 204.25 10
Oklahoma 4.25 none
Oregon 4.75 none
Pennsylvania 4.25 185 per cent.
Puerto Rico* 0.24–8.50 17
Rhode Island 4.45 11
South Carolina none none
South Dakota 4.25 none
Tennessee none none
Texas 3.35 none
Utah 4.25 none
Vermont 4.25 1285 per cent.
Virginia 4.25 none
Washington 184.90 1, 385 per cent.
West Virginia 4.25 none
Wisconsin 4.25 1375 per cent.
Wyoming 1.60 none

Notes:

  1. *District of Columbia and Puerto Rico are not states of the USA.
  2. 1. Where a state is shown as having a lower rate than the federal minimum of $4.25 this would apply only to workers whose work involves no interstate commerce. In practice, such a condition will apply to only a small minority of workers. Most workers in these states will be covered by the federal rate.
  3. 1 Percentage rate of the statutory minimum for learners and/or apprentices.
  4. 2 Percentage rate for first 160 hours of employment.
  5. 3 By state wage board order(s).
  6. 4 Percentage rate, for first 200 hours of employment.
  7. 5 Percentage rate, for up to six months.
  8. 6 Scale of rates for specified occupations.
  9. 7 $4 an hour for employers whose annual gross volume is less than $362,500.
  10. 8 At minors rate, for first 300 hours of employment.
  11. 9 Sub-minimum rate to certain students may be granted.
  12. 10 85 per cent. for apprentices for period of up to 90 days.
  13. 11 At rate determined by director of labour for up to 90 days.
  14. 12 Percentage rate for retail, wholesale and service establishment by wage order, for up to 240 hours or 30 days for learners.
  15. 13 Percentage rate, for student learners aged 14 to 18, under wage order.
  16. 826
  17. 14 For persons with less than 60 calendar days experience in laundry and dry-cleaning occupation.
  18. 15 Sub-minimum rate may be prescribed by rules.
  19. 16 Special licence or certificate may be issued authorising sub-minimum rate.
  20. 17 Specific rates established by wage order for various categories of employees.
  21. 18 $5.15 an hour for employees of certain contractors providing services to medical care recipients.
  22. 19 $4 an hour, for employer whose annual gross volume is $110,000 or less.
  23. 20 $2.80 an hour, for employer whose annual gross volume is less than $150,000.

Source:

The Bureau of National Affairs, Inc.