Effective January 1, 2015, the Missouri minimum wage increased to $7.65 per hour, which is a $.15 per hour increase from 2014. The Missouri minimum wage for tipped workers also increased to $3.83 per hour, which is a $.09 per hour increase. The increases occurred due to a 2006 state law which provides for an annual cost of living adjustment to the Missouri minimum wage. The federal minimum wage remains at $7.25 an hour, which has not been raised since 2009. 20 states, including Missouri, have laws that provide for a higher minimum wage than the federal law requires.

According to an article published by MarketWatch, the statistics involving minimum wage workers are as follows:

Nationwide
• 3.3 million — The number of people in 2013 who earned at or below the federal minimum wage, according to the most recent government data available.
• 1.01 million — The number of minimum-wage employees who work full time (35 hours or more).
• 0.8% — The share of full-time U.S. workers earning at or below the minimum wage.

By race and sex
• 77.4% — The share of workers earning the minimum or less who are white.
• 62.4% — The share of minimum-wage workers who are women.

By age and marital status
• 50.4% — The share of minimum-wage workers who are aged between 16 to 24. Or 1.66 million workers.
• 49.6% — The share of minimum-wage workers who are 25 or older. Or 1.64 million workers.

By occupation and education
• 46.7% — Share of minimum-wage workers in food preparation and related “hospitality” industries. No other sector comes close.
• 29.7% — Share of high-school graduates who earn the federal minimum.
• 28.1% — Share of those lacking a high school diploma earning the minimum age.
• 7.9% — Share of minimum-wage earners with a college degree.

The National Employment Law Project estimates that 136,000 employees in Missouri are paid at minimum wage levels.

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