The minimum wage is a vital tool to ensure the stability of millions of families, but in the United States this figure has remained frozen at the federal level since 2009!!
Texas, one of the fastest growing states economically, is now facing a complex reality: while some states have raised their minimum wages to adapt to the costs of living, Texas remains tied to the federal standard of $7.25 per hour…. In the midst of this situation, several Texas cities have decided to take the initiative and lead a significant change to improve the lives of workers. We tell you everything you need to know about the Texas wage increase below.
Why hasn’t Texas changed its pay limits?
In many states across the country, governments have decided to raise the minimum wage to adapt to the country’s economic situation, where everything is becoming more and more expensive. In fact, 30 states and the District of Columbia have adopted higher minimums than those being considered federally. However, Texas has chosen not to update this figure, which has generated a strong contrast within the state itself.
Cities that have changed the minimum wage
In the absence of movement from state policy, several cities have decided to act on their own and make a difference against the rest.
- Austin: The capital of Texas has raised the salary to $21.63 per hour for municipal employees.
- Houston: In Harris County, commissioners increased to $15 per hour
- in Dallas they increased to $22.05 per hour (when in 2024 they were $18.24).
- Fort Worth will increase to $18 per hour this year (up from $16.07 last October).
- San Antonio: Although they have not implemented an increase yet, their minimum wage is estimated at $18 per hour.
And how does this compare to the rest of the country?
These increases rank close to states like Washington and California (where wages hover around $16-$17 per hour), but the main difference is that these changes in Texas only affect municipal employees, leaving out most private sector workers.
Does this have any significance for workers?
For those who receive this increase, it will make a huge difference, imagine earning more. You could live much more comfortably, but these changes also reflect an inequality with the rest of the state, since, while some enjoy the increase in their salaries, others remain locked into the $7.25 federal minimum wage, a salary that is quite low considering how the prices of everything are getting higher and higher.
These initiatives could mark the beginning of a “domino effect” of other states raising their minimum wages as well. Even though the changes are small, these actions improve the entire economic wheel. The more money residents have, the more they will be able to spend at local businesses, so everything grows economically and will be better reflected in local economies. We can only wait to see how this improves and how other cities and states follow suit and make life more affordable for their workers!