More than 20 states increased minimum wage on Jan. 1, increasing wages for more than nine million workers by a total of nearly $6 billion, according to the Economic Policy Institute.
Nearly 50 cities and counties raised their minimum wages above the state minimum.
Staffing issues have been a common theme throughout the dental industry, including the rising cost of labor and its impact on dental practice economics. Continually increasing wages, the high cost of staff and staff overhead are all problems that dentists will face in 2025 while trying to maintain profitability.
Here are the 21 states that increased their minimum wage on Jan. 1:
Alaska
2025 minimum wage: $11.91
Increase from 2024: $0.18
Arizona
2025 minimum wage: $14.70
Increase from 2024: $0.35
California
2025 minimum wage: $16.50
Increase from 2024: $0.50
Colorado
2025 minimum wage: $14.81
Increase from 2024: $0.39
Connecticut
2025 minimum wage: $16.35
Increase from 2024: $0.66
Delaware
2025 minimum wage: $15
Increase from 2024: $1.75
Illinois
2025 minimum wage: $15
Increase from 2024: $1
Maine
2025 minimum wage: $14.65
Increase from 2024: $0.50
Michigan
2025 minimum wage: $10.56
Increase from 2024: $0.23
Minnesota
2025 minimum wage: $11.13
Increase from 2024: $0.28
Missouri
2025 minimum wage: $13.75
Increase from 2024: $1.45
Montana
2025 minimum wage: $10.55
Increase from 2024: $0.25
Nebraska
2025 minimum wage: $13.50
Increase from 2024: $1.50
New Jersey
2025 minimum wage: $15.49
Increase from 2024: $0.36
New York
2025 minimum wage: $15.50
Increase from 2024: $0.50
Ohio
2025 minimum wage: $10.70
Increase from 2024: $0.25
Rhode Island
2025 minimum wage: $15
Increase from 2024: $1
South Dakota
2025 minimum wage: $11.50
Increase from 2024: $0.30
Vermont
2025 minimum wage: $14.01
Increase from 2024: $0.34
Virginia
2025 minimum wage: $12.41
Increase from 2024: $0.41
Washington
2025 minimum wage: $16.66
Increase from 2024: $0.38