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For Much Of New England, Minimum Wage Going Up In 2019

Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker signed the "grand bargain" bill on June 28, 2018. He's shown here with the two legislative leaders, as of 2021, Senate President Karen Spilka (left) and House Speaker Ron Mariano (second from left).
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Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker sits down to sign the "grand bargain" bill on June 28, 2018, flanked by Democrats including incoming Senate President Karen Spilka, House Majority Leader Ron Mariano and House Speaker Robert DeLeo.

The minimum wage is going up in four of the six New England states next year.

Massachusetts continues to lead the minimum wage race. Affected Bay State workers will get $12 an hour in 2019, up from $11. The tipped minimum wage also increases, but the rate for certain farm workers remains the same, at $8 an hour.

Maine, still abiding by a voter-approved ballot question, will increase its minimum wage to $11, up from $10.

Rhode Island's wage will rise 40 cents to $10.50, and in Vermont, where increases are now somewhat tied to inflation, workers will get a 28-cent bump to $10.78 an hour.

That leaves Connecticut holding steady at $10.10 an hour, the second lowest in New England, though that could change with a new governor taking office and more Democratic control of the legislature.

New Hampshire has no state minimum wage, so it defers to the federal rate, of $7.25 an hour.

Sam Hudzik has overseen local news coverage on New England Public Media since 2013. He manages a team of about a dozen full- and part-time reporters and hosts.
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