Effort To Boost PA Minimum Wage Rekindled

HARRISBURG, PA — Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro once again is calling for the state to raise its minimum wage.

During his 2026-27 budget address on Tuesday, Shapiro advocated boosting the minimum wage from $7.25 an hour to $15 an hour. He noted that the minimum wage has not changed in the state since 2009 and that states adjoining Pennsylvania have higher ones.

"Four of our six neighbors are at $15 or more. Ohio is on its way to $15," he said. "Hell, even West Virginia is ahead of us."

According to U.S. Department of Labor statistics, 30 states (as well as Washington, D.C, Guam, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands) have minimum wages greater than $7.25 an hour. Thirteen, including Pennsylvania, have state laws setting the minimum at $7.25. The remaining seven have no state laws but must pay $7.25 to comply with the federal Fair Labor Standards Act, which establishes minimum wage, overtime pay, record keeping, and youth employment standards affecting employees in the private sector.

Pennsylvania's neighboring states have the following minimum wages:

• New York $17

• New Jersey: $15.92

• Delaware: $15

• Maryland: $15

• Ohio: $11

• West Virginia: $8.75

Shapiro cited the state's potential savings for entitlement programs like Medicaid as reasons to support raising the minimum wage.

“Raising the minimum wage to $15 an hour will save this Commonwealth $300 million a year on entitlement programs like Medicaid,” he said. “Not by adding arbitrary and cumbersome requirements that push people who still need help off the rolls, but by literally raising the wages of nearly 61,000 people who currently rely on Medicaid and make less than $15 an hour.”

Shapiro's call for a minimum wage hike drew rousing applause and a standing ovation from Democratic state senators gathered to hear the address, but not Republicans who have resisted an increase and who control the Senate. Shapiro drew attention to that fact.

“The House of Representatives has passed legislation to increase our minimum wage twice,” Shapiro said. “And each time, the Senate refused to act.”