Minimum-wage workers in 22 states are going to see more money in their paychecks in the new year.

Those increases will affect an estimated 9.9 million workers, according to the Economic Policy Institute (EPI), which estimates that those bumped wages will add up to an additional $6.95 billion in pay.

In addition to those 22 states, 38 cities and counties will also increase their minimum wages above state minimums on Jan. 1.

According to the Department of Labor, 20 states will maintain the federal minimum wage of $7.25 an hour.

And according to EPI, of the 17.6 million workers earning less than $15 an hour, nearly half live in those 20 states that continue to stick to the federal minimum wage — which has not changed since 2009.

The cost of living, however, has skyrocketed.

  • FlashMobOfOne@lemmy.world
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    11 months ago

    That it isn’t all 50 states is the real headline, if you ask me.

    There are still over 20 states where it’s legal to pay you less than the cost of a cup of coffee.

    • Alto@kbin.social
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      11 months ago

      Fully agree with the sentiment

      The fuck kind of coffee you buying haha. Even the real fancy places round here are still maybe 4 bucks for a large coffee unless you’re basically making it a glorified milkshake.

      E: sp, don’t write things 3 minutes after waking up kids

      • surewhynotlem@lemmy.world
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        11 months ago

        “coffee” - double mocha latte extra shot three pumps of whatever

        They must mean a fancy morning milkshake

      • frickineh@lemmy.world
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        11 months ago

        I got a grande soy chai, which isn’t even fancy other than switching to a non-dairy milk, at Starbucks the other day and it was like $6.50. Fuckin highway robbery.

        • RGB3x3@lemmy.world
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          11 months ago

          That’s why I don’t go to Starbucks at all anymore. It’s trash, they union busy, and it’s become ridiculously expensive.

          Buy a Moka pot. It’s easy and will take just as long as going through a Starbucks. Tastes better too.

          • frickineh@lemmy.world
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            11 months ago

            The union thing has been a big reason why I don’t go, too. I make coffee at home or work 99.9% of the time, but I really wanted a chai that day. And then they told me the total and I said, “ooh never again.”