Effective May 1, the minimum wage in Virginia increases to $9.50 per hour. Although the federal proposal to raise the national minimum wage to $15.00 did not survive the recent Congressional deliberations, last year’s Virginia General Assembly enacted legislation raising the minimum wage in Virginia gradually over several years to $15.00 per hour. The first step is the increase to $9.50 per hour as of May 1, with the second step to $11.00 per hour effective January 1, 2022.
From January 1, 2023 until January 1, 2025, the rate will be $12.00 per hour. From January 1, 2025 until January 1, 2026, the rate will increase to $13.50 per hour. Effective January 1, 2026, the rate increases to $15.00 per hour. As of January 1, 2027, the minimum wage will be the greater of either the adjusted state hourly minimum wage or the federal minimum wage. Each year, the Commissioner of the Virginia Department of Labor and Industry will set the adjusted state hourly minimum wage based on a formula specified by law. With all the step increases, the Virginia legislation provides that the federal rate will apply if it is higher than the Virginia rate.
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