33 Places in the U.S. Where the Minimum Wage Is Already $15 an Hour—or More

By Kerri Anne Renzulli On 2/26/21 at 2:02 PM EST

A decision this week by the Senate parliamentarian, its chief rule enforcer, makes it highly unlikely that an increase in the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2025 will remain in the final version of President Joe Biden's $1.9 trillion economic relief plan. But in 33 places in the U.S., minimum wage workers don't have to wait for Congress to act to earn $15 an hour—they're already at that benchmark, with another three locales joining them later this year.

Democrats have vowed to keep fighting to raise the federal minimum wage, which has been stuck at $7.25 an hour for more than a decade—either to keep the increase as part of the current bill or to introduce separate legislation to raise the bar later this year. In the meantime, though, a number of states and localities have taken matters into their own hands: Currently, 29 states have a minimum wage higher than that of the federal government, as do some 45 cities and counties.

California minimum wage — The minimum wage in California, already the highest of any state at $14 an hour, will hit $15 next year. But cities in the Golden State have minimum wage laws that already mandate $15 an hour or more in 2021. FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP via Getty Images

Not one of those states, though, currently mandates a minimum wage of $15 an hour. The closest—California—pays $14 an hour. But some three dozen individual counties and cities (mostly in California) as well the federal district do have laws on the books mandating a $15-an-hour minimum wage this year—and at least nine other states and four cities have passed laws that will bring the minimum wage in those areas up to that benchmark over the next few years.

Here are all 33 places where minimum-wage workers earn at least $15 an hour in 2021, as well as three areas that will hit $15 later this year, plus the 13 states and cities that will join their ranks over the next few years.

Flagstaff, Arizona

Minimum wage: $15
Most recent increase: $13 to $15 on January 1, 2021

Alameda, California

Minimum wage: $15
Most recent increase: $13.50 to $15 on July 1, 2020

Belmont, California

Minimum wage: $15.90
Most recent increase: $15 to $15.90 on January 1, 2021

Berkeley, California

Minimum wage: $16.07
Most recent increase:$15.59 to $16.07 on July 1, 2020

Cupertino, California

Minimum wage: $15.65
Most recent increase: $15.35 to $15.65 on January 1, 2021

El Cerrito, California

Minimum wage: $15.61
Most recent increase: $15.37 to $15.61 on January 1, 2021

Emeryville, California

Minimum wage: $16.84
Most recent increase: $16.30 to $16.84 on July 1, 2020

Fremont, California

Minimum wage: $15
Most recent increase: $13.50 to $15 on July 1, 2020

Hayward, California

Minimum wage: $15
Most recent increase: $13 to $15 on January 1, 2021

Los Altos, California

Minimum wage: $15.65
Most recent increase: $15.40 to $15.65 on January 1, 2021

Los Angeles, California

Minimum wage: $15
Most recent increase: $14.25 to $15 on July 1, 2020