Minimum wages are going up in several states this year.  In fact, 18 states kicked off the new year with higher wages. Arkansas workers now must be paid $9.25 per hour.

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Alaska, Florida, Minnesota, Montana, New Jersey, Ohio, South Dakota, and Vermont  automatically increased their rates based on the cost of living, while ten others: Arizona, California, Colorado, Maine, Massacusetts, Missouri, New York, Rhode Island and Washington increased their wages as the result of legislation.

The increase in Arkansas was the result of a ballot initiative.

CLICK HERE to see wages for each state.

Louisiana lawmakers have been reluctant to boost minimum wage, but Governor John Bel Edwards is going to push for that again this spring.

Currently Louisiana has no minimum wage. We go by the federal minimum wage which is $7.25 an hour.

Washington DC has the highest wage in the nation at $13.25. The states with the highest minimum wages are California, Massachusets and Washington where workers must earn $12.00 an hour.  Several state are phasing in increases over the next five years with those increase tied to the cost of living.

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