Many cities and counties, mostly in California, Washington, Colorado, Illinois, Minnesota, Maryland, New Mexico, Arizona, and Oregon, set a local minimum wage above their state rate. Big examples are Chicago, Los Angeles, Seattle, Denver, and San Francisco.
Do I get the city rate or the state rate?
You get whichever is higher. If your city sets a minimum above the state, your employer has to pay the city rate for the hours you work there.
Why do cities set their own minimum wage?
Living costs vary a lot within a state. Cities with a higher cost of living often set a local minimum above the statewide rate to keep pace. Some states, though, do not allow cities to set their own.
David Scott compiles and verifies minimum wage rates, tipped wages, and overtime rules from official state and federal labor department sources, and re-checks every page when rates change. See how the data is sourced.