Pennsylvania Proposes $15 Minimum Wage

Gov. Josh Shapiro's plan would lift the state's $7.25 hourly floor, which has not changed since 2009.

Updated on Nov. 7, 2026 in Employment

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Should Pennsylvania raise its minimum wage to $15 an hour?

A proposal would raise Pennsylvania's minimum wage from $7.25 to $15 an hour, a level unchanged since 2009. The increase would require approval from the state legislature before becoming law.

Why it matters

The change would directly affect employers across Pennsylvania, including small businesses that already pay above the current floor. Business owners weigh the added labor costs against wages needed to attract and keep staff.

The proposed increase would move Pennsylvania's minimum wage from $7.25 to $15 an hour, the first change since 2009. One Schuylkill County restaurant with 12 employees estimates the change would add about $53,000 in payroll costs over three quarters, and the legislature has not yet voted.

The players

Josh Shapiro

Josh Shapiro is the Governor of Pennsylvania, who has proposed raising the state minimum wage to $15 an hour.

3C's Family Restaurant

3C's Family Restaurant is a family-owned restaurant in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, operating since 1974 with 12 employees.

The Midtown Juice Lab

The Midtown Juice Lab is a juice business in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, owned by Bryanna Dixon, that pays employees well above minimum wage.

The details

Gov. Josh Shapiro's plan calls for the increase, which would apply statewide. 3C's Family Restaurant, a family-owned business in Schuylkill County operating since 1974, already pays staff above the state minimum, while Midtown Juice Lab in Harrisburg, owned by Bryanna Dixon, also pays well above the floor.

2009: Pennsylvania's minimum wage was last set at $7.25 an hour.
1974: 3C's Family Restaurant began operating in Schuylkill County.
Over three quarters: The restaurant estimates the added payroll cost would accumulate.

Economic Context

Pennsylvania's $7.25 minimum wage has not changed since 2009, leaving it at the federal floor for well over a decade. The proposed $15 level would mark the first state-level change to that long-standing benchmark.

If enacted, the $15 minimum would raise pay for Pennsylvania workers now earning $7.25 an hour. Employers such as small restaurants would face higher payroll costs, which could affect hiring and menu prices.

The takeaway

Workers and employers across Pennsylvania should watch the legislature, since any vote would set the wage floor for every job in the state. Budgeting for higher payroll now can help businesses prepare if the increase passes.