Starting January 1, 2025, Arizona’s minimum wage will rise by 35 cents to $14.70 per hour, benefiting some of the state’s lowest-paid workers. This increase translates to an annual income of $30,576 for full-time workers and positions Arizona among the states with the highest minimum wages.
The Economic Policy Institute estimates that about 3% of Arizonans currently earn the minimum wage, which will see this adjustment in the new year.
Workers in San Diego, California will also see a modest pay increase as the city implements a new minimum wage starting January 1.
The hourly rate for minimum wage workers within city limits will rise from $16.85 to $17.25, reflecting an increase of nearly 50 cents. This adjustment is part of a 2016 ordinance aimed at aligning San Diego’s wage laws with state-level changes that set California on a path to a $15 minimum wage by 2022.
“This milestone reflects years of hard work and advocacy to put more money directly into the pockets of hardworking San Diegans,” San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria said in a release. “By raising the minimum wage, we are helping working families deal with the rising cost of living and better make ends meet.”
After reaching the $15 benchmark, both the state and city began making annual adjustments tied to the national Consumer Price Index (CPI). While California caps these yearly increases at 3.5%, San Diego’s ordinance allows for unrestricted adjustments, enabling its minimum wage to outpace the state’s.
However, not all workers will be affected by this change. Those in industries governed by specific state minimum wage laws, such as fast food, or individuals already earning above the baseline, will not see an impact. Additionally, workers outside the city’s boundaries are excluded from this increase.
