Minimum wage laws set a limit on how low a worker’s wages can be. In general, there are two types of minimum wage laws: state minimum wage, and federal minimum wage. Which one is binding is usually whichever wage is higher.

The Federal minimum wage is mandated by the Fair Labor Standards Act. Currently, the federal minimum wage is $7.25 per hour. In order to raise the federal minimum wage, there will need to be a new act of congress that raises the minimum wage.

The state minimum wage is different in each state. Some states choose to have a higher minimum wage than the federal minimum wage. According to the Department of Labor, those states and wages are:

- Alaska $10.85
- Arkansas $11.00
- Arizona $13.85
- California $15.50
- Colorado $13.65
- Connecticut $14.00
- Washington D.C. $16.50
- Delaware $11.75
- Florida $11.00
- Hawaii $12.00
- Illinois $13.00
- Massachusetts $15.00
- Maryland $13.25
- Maine $13.80
- Michigan $10.10
- Minnesota $10.59
- Missouri $12.00
- Montana $9.95
- Nebraska $10.50
- New Jersey $14.13
- New Mexico $12.00
- Nevada $10.50
- New York $14.20
- Ohio $10.10
- Oregon $13.50
- Rhode Island $13.00
- South Dakota $10.80
- Virginia $12.00
- Vermont $13.18
- Washington $15.74
- West Virginia $8.75

Other states simply keep in line with the federal minimum wage, increasing it as the federal wage goes up. Those states are Georgia, Iowa, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, North Carolina, North Dakota, New Hampshire, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Texas, Utah, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. Finally, there are some states that have no minimum wage law: Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Tennessee. In most cases this means that the federal minimum wage will apply.

If you have not been paid minimum wage and want to seek justice, you will need the help of an experienced employment law attorney. A private defense attorney is able to focus completely on your case and devote far more attention to your case than a public defender would be able to.

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At AAL, we only partner with the best firms in your area, helping you find the best attorney for your case. Don’t wait, contact AAL today to be matched with skilled and experienced attorneys in your area who practice employment law.