Make It Rain: Minimum Wage Increase Coming To Arizona

When I was in college, I worked at a corporate coffee chain to help pay the bills (and pay my bartenders). Day in and day out, I served hundreds of people overpriced coffees filled with far too much sugar and far too little coffee.

These drinks ranged anywhere from five to twenty dollars, with most averaging out at around fourteen bucks a pop. Under federal minimum wage, I'd have to work two hours to afford a drink I made in seconds.

A change needed to be made, but should it?

The History of Arizona Minimum Wage

For much of our history, Arizona, we paid our wages as we saw fit. That all changed, however, when in 2007, President George W. Bush established the $7.25 minimum wage. Arizona voted the year prior to set their state minimum wage to $6.75 per hour. The state wage was raised again, this time with a growing number from 2017 to 2023, which capped at $13.85.

With a state minimum wage this much higher than the federal set, this seemed to be set in stone.

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Read More: Tipped Workers to Make More in Arizona

2025 Expects Higher Wages

If our state minimum wage is way over the average, why do we need to keep raising it? The answer is simple-ish. It's inflation! As the costs of everything else goes up, our wages should also increase, so we can, you know, afford things.

On January 1st, 2025, the Arizona minimum wage will raise to $14.70 per hour, a 35 cent raise. This still follows the initial plan from 2017: access inflation numbers and adjust accordingly. While a solid plan is in place to ensure the economy stays chugging, it's unclear if another raise in pay, this time closer to California's $16, would cause prices to rise, or if it will simple create more economic equilibrium.

Only time will tell.

[Arizona Legislation][AZ Capitol Times]