In January 2009, many states increased their minimum wage. But in 2010, only a few states change their minimum wage and most of the states are keeping steady.

The state of Kansas increased its minimum wage from $2.65 per hour to 7.25 per hour on January 1, 2010. This is the first time in recent twenty years that increased the minimum wage. Now, Kansas is not the state with the lowest minimum wage. There are five states have no minimum wage whatsoever, like Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee, Louisiana and South Carolina.

Different from other states, some state decreased its minimum wage. Colorado decreased its minimum wage by 4 cents from $7.28 per hour to $7.24 per hour. The employees who are covered by the federal minimum wage enjoy $7.25 per hour. Those states increase the minimum wage in terms of the cost of living. The following state don’t increase the minimum wage this year, they are Ohio, Washington, Oregon, Vermont, Nevada, Montana, Missouri and Arizona.

Totally speaking, except Georgia, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Arkansas have a minimum wage lower than the federal