People Leaving Massachusetts For NH Are In For A Rude Awakening
Massachusetts had a plan to get the minimum wage up to $15.00 by January of 2023, and that it did. There is no increase slated for Massachusetts slated for 2024, as the state's minimum wage will remain unchanged. Four other surrounding New England states have respectable minimum wages, except for New Hampshire.
Not that minimum wage rates is the deciding factor on where you ultimately end up, but it's worth noting that New Hampshire's minimum wage is a pathetic $7.25 an hour (the federal minimum). I realize that pathetic is subjective and that small businesses can absolutely struggle to keep up with higher minimum wages, but still.
There are currently only 19 states with a $7.25 minimum wage.
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The minimum wage in New Hampshire hasn’t changed in over 10 years, and in 2023 it remained at $7.25. There have been a number of attempts to raise the minimum wage over the years, but New Hampshire has remained consistent with the federal minimum wage.
New England Minimum Wages for 2024
Massachusetts - $15.00
Connecticut - $15.69
Rhode Island - $14.00
Vermont - $13.67
Maine - $14.15
New Hampshire - $7.25
Overtime In NH
In New Hampshire, employees working more than 40 hours a week are guaranteed time and a half for all hours worked. There are some exemptions here, including seasonal employees who work fewer than six months a year.
Massachusetts has the third highest minimum wage in the U.S. behind only Connecticut, California, and Washington.
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Gallery Credit: Aubrey Jane McClaine