Getting Ahead: Raising Minimum Wage

November 21, 2022 | By: Patricia Jones | Star-Herald

Last week, Nebraskans voted for a state Constitutional amendment to raise the minimum wage. Our current minimum wage of $9.00 an hour will increase in increments to $15.00 an hour by 2026. This vote means that more than 10,000 residents, including 3,500 children, will be lifted out of poverty.

On January 1, 2023, the minimum wage will go up to $10.50. On January 1, 2024, it will become $12.00. On January 1, 2025, $13.50. $15.00 will come into effect on January 1, 2026. Finally, on January 1, 2027, and on January 1 of successive years, minimum wage will be raised by the increase in the cost of living, rounded up to the nearest 5¢.

The Constitutional amendment did not change the hourly rate for tipped employees of $2.13 an hour. However, if the sum of their wages and gratuities (tips) do not exceed the minimum wage, the employer must make up the difference.

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