Do most employers pay minimum-wage workers more than $7.25/hour? YES! (And it’s not even close)

Since July 24, 2009, the federal minimum wage for covered nonexempt employees has been $7.25 per hour. Many states and cities have raised that floor, with some cities, like Seattle, headed to $15/hr.

But, federally, despite pressure from many to raise it, we’ve been stuck at a $7.25 minimum wage for over 7 years.

And, you’d think that with the new overtime rules going into effect on December 1, American businesses wouldn’t be too keen on paying their minimum wage workers any more than is required.

Except, you’d be wrong. Well, at least that’s what the latest survey from CareerBuilder.com indicates:

 

Here’s a breakdown of what employees plan on paying minimum wage workers this year:

• Less than $8:00: 11 percent

• $8.00-$8.99 per hour: 23 percent

• $9.00-$9.99 per hour: 14 percent

• $10.00-$10.99 per hour: 21 percent

• $11.00-$11.99 per hour: 7 percent

• $12.00-$12.99 per hour: 8 percent

• $13.00-$13.99 per hour: 6 percent

• $14.00-$14.99 per hour: 5 percent

• $15.00 or more per hour: 6 percent

And the reasons for doing so sound fairly magnanimous. Most surveyed employers said higher pay can improve the standard of living (72 percent). Others valued the positive effect on employee retention (59 percent) and the positive overall effect on the economy (53 percent).

I’ll leave the arguments on whether to raise the minimum wage to the experts — I’m just one dork with a dork blog. But, right now, the huge majority of business blow the federal minimum wage out of the water!