Gavin Newsom Announces Nation's Highest State Minimum Wage at $17.40, Blasts Trump Over Federal Pay Floor

California will raise its minimum wage to $17.40 per hour from Jan. 1, surpassing every other state and marking the highest state-level wage floor in the country.

The increase lifts pay from the current $16.90 rate.

Newsom Ties Wage Hike to Cost-of-Living Fight Ahead of Midterms

Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-Calif.) used the announcement to criticize federal inaction. “For years, Donald Trump and Republicans have blocked efforts to raise the federal minimum wage while handing tax breaks to billionaires and big corporations,” he said, adding, “We believe if you work hard, you deserve a decent paycheck.”

The federal minimum wage has stayed at $7.25 since 2009. According to the Department of Labor data, 30 states and Washington, D.C., now have minimum wages above the federal rate. Washington’s current minimum wage is $17.13, slightly lower than California’s new rate, while New York City has a minimum wage of $17.

California’s wage has risen from $12 since Newsom took office in 2019.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) researchers estimate a two-adult, two-child household needs $36.38 hourly per adult to cover basic expenses.

California’s minimum wage increase comes as the state faces other economic changes. A proposed tax on billionaires’ wealth, which is scheduled to appear on the November ballot, has already led some of the state’s wealthiest residents to move elsewhere or reorganize their finances to avoid the tax.

Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

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