When it comes to the minimum wage, we cannot just ‘leave it to the states’: Effective state minimum wages today and projected for 2020
| Federal minimum wage (effective in 21 states) | Average of all states (employment weighted) | Average in states above $7.25 (employment weighted) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| November, 2016 | $7.25 | $8.25 | $8.90 |
| November, 2020 | $7.25 | $9.30 | $10.63 |
Notes: States with automatic inflation adjustment are projected using the CBO's projections for the CPI. Averages in both periods are weighted by September 2016 state nonfarm employment. Estimates do not account for city or county minimum wages.
Source: EPI analysis of state minimum wage laws, total nonfarm employment from the BLS, and CBO projections for inflation