Unions representing various industries, including healthcare and fast food, have been using strikes to demand better working conditions, benefits, and higher wages
A recent agreement in California will raise the minimum wage for most of the state's fast food workers to at least $20 per hour next year, and healthcare workers will see their salaries increase to at least $25 per hour over the next decade
Minimum wage varies across the United States, with 15 states adhering to the federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour, and five states having no minimum wage laws
States with the lowest minimum wage ($7.25) include Georgia, Iowa, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, North Carolina, North Dakota, New Hampshire, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Texas, Utah, and Wisconsin
The highest minimum wage in the U.S. is in Washington, D.C., at $16.50 per hour, followed by Washington State at $15.74 and California at $15.50
Some states like Nevada have tiered minimum wages; employers offering health benefits must pay at least $9.50 per hour, while those not providing health benefits must pay $10.50 per hour
Several states, including Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Wyoming, have no state minimum wage laws, deferring to the federal minimum wage of $7.25
Approximately 1 million hourly workers, or 1.3% of all hourly paid workers, are paid at or below the federal minimum wage, according to the Department of Labor
Overall, minimum wage laws and rates vary significantly across states, impacting the earnings and working conditions of millions of employees in the United States