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State Minimum Wage
Minimum wage policies establish a floor for workers’ hourly wages. Although the federal government sets a minimum wage for the country as a whole, states can individually establish higher minimum wages. Increasing pay for workers with low wages may increase access to basic resources, helping to lift low-income families out of poverty and alleviate parental stress.
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A state minimum wage of at least $10.00 increases household earnings and reduces child poverty, particularly in families of color, as well as improves birth outcomes and children’s health and development.
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