How minimum wage has changed since 2008

In the news yesterday there was an article about San Francisco becoming the frist U.S. City to top $10 minimum wage. (read story to the right)

Minimum wage is the lowest hourly, daily or monthly remuneration that employers may legally pay to workers.

When I first started working back in 1998-ish minimum wage was only $5.25 an hour! Life back then was a lot easier though and prices of life weren't as high as they are now. Today the minimum wage in the same state is up to $7.25 an hour.

So how much has it changed since 2008 (a time where things were harder), lets take a look at some states:

Tennessee had the lowest minimum wage in 2008 at $5.58 an hour. Washington State had the highest minimum wage in 2008 at $8.07 an hour. That's a big difference! Most the rest of the states in 2008 were around the $6.50 mark, some being higher or lower but most staying around $6.50.

In 2010 Tennessee had went up to $7.25 which made it the same as most other states in this same year. Minnesota became the lowest minimum wage at $6.15 an hour while Oregon made the top of the list at $8.40 an hour.

So what is going to happen in 2012? Well, as far as State minimum wages go, Minnesota will still be the lowest state at $6.15 an hour. Their minimum wage has not gone up since before 2008. Washington State will be the highest state at $9.04 an hour which is up $0.97 since 2008. Most of the states are topping out at $7.25 an hour for their minimum wage in 2012.

Nevada is the only state that is still to be determined for 2012 but their minimum wage has gone from $6.85 in 2008 to $8.25 in 2011. That's $1.40 differance, maybe it will keep going up.

Interested in what minimum wage is in your state? Check out the link below