Beginning Sunday, January 1, 2012, Ohio’s minimum wage will rise from $7.40 per hour to $7.70 per hour. Minimum wage for employees who receive tips will increase 15 cents an hour to $3.85. These increases stem from a 2006 amendment to the Ohio constitution that provides for gradual increases in minimum wage to account for inflation.

Only Ohio employers with annual gross receipts of $283,000 are required to comply with the new minimum wage laws. Employers with annual revenue below $283,000 must pay at least the federal minimum wage of $7.25 an hour. Ohio is one of 17 states with a minimum wage above the federal requirement.

Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Montana, Oregon, Vermont and Washington comprise the seven additional states raising minimum wage at the start of the new year. The increases for these states range from 28 cents to 37 cents per hour.

If you have any questions on how these new laws affect you or your business, feel free to contact DLM Legal at info@dlmlegal.com or 216.635.0002.