Minimum wage increase in Missouri - KOAM TV 7

Minimum wage increase in Missouri

The new year brings bigger paychecks for minimum wage workers in Missouri.  Effective today Missouri's minimum wage climbs to $7.35 an hour, a dime over the federal rate of $7.25.

Missouri is one of ten states to raise its minimum wage.  According to the Labor Department, Missouri will also be among 21 states that have a higher minimum wage than the federal government standard.

Minimum wage workers at Waffle House in Joplin say they are grateful for the 10 cent increase but say it's been a long time coming.

The raise comes because of inflation and a ballot initiative passed by Missouri voters in 2006 that automatically adjusts the state's minimum wage every year to keep up with the pace of the rising cost of living.

The manager of the Waffle House, Crystal Adams, says she doesn't believe the 10 cent increase will make much of a difference.

"I don't think it's going to impact us a whole lot for tips - 90% of our employees are already over minimum wage anyway but I think it should be more than 10 cents," says Adams.

Increasing the state's minimum wage to $7.35 per hour is projected to put an additional $8 million into the state's economy.