Workers in Select New England States Set for Minimum Wage Increase in 2024

Employees in various New England states are witnessing a rise in the minimum wage in 2024, among 20 other states across the United States.

Connecticut will see an increase from the current $15.00 per hour to $15.69, making it the highest minimum wage in New England. Starting on January 1 and continuing each subsequent January 1, the salary will be modified in accordance with the U.S. Department of Labor’s computation of the employment cost index.

Rhode Island is set to raise its current $13 minimum wage by $1 to $14 per hour on January 1st. This marks the next phase in a gradual increase, with the ultimate goal of reaching $15 by 2025.

Vermont‘s minimum wage will climb from $13.18 to $13.67, a $0.49 increase. This adjustment also impacts the minimum wage for tipped workers, rising from $6.59 to $6.84 per hour.

Maine is witnessing a rise in its hourly minimum wage from $13.80 to $14.15. The state mandates annual adjustments based on the cost of living. Meanwhile, Portland is pushing its city minimum wage from $14 to $15, and the new tipped wage in 2024 will be $7.08 per hour.

Massachusetts will maintain its $15 per hour minimum wage in 2024. However, there is a campaign advocating for another increase to $20. Advocates in Massachusetts are also pushing to phase out the state’s subminimum wage of $6.75 per hour for tipped workers.

New Hampshire retains the lowest minimum wage in New England, matching the federal rate of $7.25. Despite multiple attempts to increase it in recent years, efforts have been thwarted by state legislators.

As wages increase in different states, the gap between state and federal minimum wage requirements is growing wider. The federal minimum wage has stayed at $7.25 per hour since July 2009, and in specific states, the recently set minimum exceeds double the federal rate.

In August 2023, the U.S. Department of Labor proposed a rule that could make an additional 3.6 million workers eligible for overtime. The regulation would require employers to pay overtime to salaried workers in executive, administrative, and professional roles making less than $1,059 a week or $55,068 a year for full-time employees, up from $35,568.