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Podcasts Take Two
Comparing California and Seattle's minimum wage bumps
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Jul 1, 2014
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Comparing California and Seattle's minimum wage bumps
As California's minimum wage increases to nine dollars an hour and eventually $10 in 2016, it's still under the ambitious minimum wage plans in Seattle, where it will increase to $15/hour in 2017.
Fast food workers and activists demonstrate outside the McDonald's corporate campus on May 21, 2014 in Oak Brook, Illinois. The demonstrators were calling on McDonald's to pay a minimum wage of $15-per-hour and offer better working conditions for their employees. Several protestors were arrested after they entered and ignored police orders to leave the McDonald's campus. McDonald's is scheduled to hold its annual shareholder's meeting tomorrow at the campus.
Fast food workers and activists demonstrate outside the McDonald's corporate campus on May 21, 2014 in Oak Brook, Illinois. The demonstrators were calling on McDonald's to pay a minimum wage of $15-per-hour and offer better working conditions for their employees. Several protestors were arrested after they entered and ignored police orders to leave the McDonald's campus. McDonald's is scheduled to hold its annual shareholder's meeting tomorrow at the campus.
(
Scott Olson/Getty Images
)

As California's minimum wage increases to nine dollars an hour and eventually $10 in 2016, it's still under the ambitious minimum wage plans in Seattle, where it will increase to $15/hour in 2017.

As California's minimum wage increases to nine dollars an hour and eventually $10 in 2016, it's still under the ambitious minimum wage plans in Seattle, where it will increase to $15/hour in 2017. 

To discuss the pros and cons of a faster, larger minimum wage increase versus a smaller, more incremental one, we're joined by Chris Tilly, director of the UCLA Institute for Research on Labor and Employment.

Minimum wage numbers at the city, state and federal level

Seattle

2014 - $9.32/hour (WA state minimum)

2015 - $10-$11/hour*

2016 - $10.50-$13/hour*

2017 - $11-$15/hour*

Washington

2014 - $9.32/hour

2015- $9.54/hour

2016 - $9.77/hour

2017- $10.01/hour

California

2014 - $9/hour (current)

2016 - $10/hour

Federal

1938 - $.25/hour (first minimum wage ever)

2009 - $7.25/hour (current)

*Seattle's minimum wage increase is on a scale based on employer size and benefits.