History of NYS Minimum Wage Chart

There has been frequent discussion these past few weeks about the possible minimum wage increase in New York State. Lawmakers are debating over whether to increase the State minimum wage to Governor Cuomo's Proposed $8.75 or whether to wait for the Federal goverment increase to $9.00 as President Obama has mentioned. Upon following this topic I stumbled upon the below chart on the New York State Department of Labor website and thought I would share. The proposed Federal minimum wage increase is being being backed by the idea of keeping up with inflation, yet it still seems like quite a leap to increase by $1.75 all at once. It is obvious that the people who must live on such a wage are in need of a solution, but what sort of impacts will such a drastic increase have on our already sensitive economy? With the wage increase the cost of goods and services are sure to fluctuate as well. This is just some food for thought.

New York State's Minimum Wage is $7.25

Prior to 1962, state minimum wage rates varied from industry to industry.
October 15, 1962	Increased from $1.00 to $1.15
October 15, 1964	Increased from $1.15 to $1.25
January 1, 1967	Increased from $1.25 to $1.50
February 1, 1968	Increased from $1.50 to $1.60
July 1, 1970	Increased from $1.60 to $1.85
May 1, 1974	Increased from $1.85 to $2.00
January 1, 1975	Increased from $2.00 to $2.10
January 1, 1976	Increased from $2.10 to $2.30
October 6, 1978	Increased from $2.30 to $2.65
January 1, 1979	Increased from $2.65 to $2.90
January 1, 1980	Increased from $2.90 to $3.10
January 1, 1981	Increased from $3.10 to $3.35
April 1, 1990	Increased from $3.35 to $3.80
April 1, 1991	Increased from $3.80 to $4.25
March 31, 2000	Increased from $4.25 to $5.15
January 1, 2005	Increased from $5.15 to $6.00
January 1, 2006	Increased from $6.00 to $6.75
January 1, 2007	Increased from $6.75 to $7.15
July 24, 2009	Increased from $7.15 to $7.25

http://www.labor.ny.gov/stats/minimum_wage.asp

Article by Logan Barclay