New year, same wage: Pa. retains minimum wage despite 19 states seeking an increase

Pennsylvania Democrats hope that flipping the Pennsylvania Senate in November will finally bring a resolution to the minimum wage debate.

Nineteen states across the country, including New Jersey, raised their minimum wages to kick off the New Year, but Pennsylvania was once again excluded from that list. 

The state hasn’t raised the minimum wage since 2009, when the federal government raised it to $7.25 an hour. According to Gov. Josh Shapiro, the wage is “too damn low.” 

“I’m fighting to raise it, and Pennsylvania House Democrats have passed our plan — but Senate Republicans are holding our Commonwealth back,” Shapiro said in a statement on Facebook last week.

Democrats in the Pennsylvania House have attempted to raise the minimum wage during the previous two legislative sessions, but Republicans in the Senate have thwarted those efforts. 

Pennsylvania has the lowest minimum wage when compared to all of its neighboring states with New York and New Jersey having the highest minimum wages at $17 per hour and $15.92 per hour. Maryland and Delaware have their minimum wage set at $15 per hour, followed by Ohio at $11 per hour and West Virginia at $8.75 per hour. 

Democrats hope that flipping the Senate this November will finally bring an end to this stalemate. 

“With just three Republican-held seats blocking our progress, let’s work together to flip the Senate in 2026 — and finally raise the minimum wage here in Pennsylvania,” Shapiro said. 

In June, Democrats passed House Bill 1549, which would have established three different minimum wages based on county population, but the bill is currently stalled in the Republican-led Senate Labor and Industry Committee.

Residents living in Philadelphia would have had their wages raised to $15 per hour starting on Jan. 1, 2026 and adjusted for inflation starting on Jan. 1, 2029. 

Then, those living in second class, third class and some fourth class counties, whose populations range from 210,000 to 800,000 residents, would have seen the minimum wage increase to $12 per hour on Jan. 1, 2026 with increases to $13 per hour on Jan. 1, 2027 and $15 per hour on Jan. 1, 2028. It would then start adjusting for inflation on Jan. 1, 2029. 

Finally, residents in more rural counties would have seen their minimum wage increase to $10 per hour on Jan. 1, 2026 with increases to $11 per hour on Jan. 1, 2027 and $12 per hour on Jan. 1, 2028. It would then start adjusting for inflation on Jan. 1, 2029.