The federal minimum wage is $7.25 an hour. This was enacted by Congress effective July 24, 2009. Currently, 26 states have a minimum wage higher than the federal, 17 states are the same rate as the federal, and 7 states are below the federal rate or have no minimum wage. However, for states that are below or have no minimum wage, the federal minimum wage rate applies.
Cities within a state have always had the option to pay above the state minimum rate as with Seattle, San Francisco and Los Angeles and Emeryville.