Montgomery Co. Raises Minimum Wage, Becomes Highest In PA

NORRISTOWN, PA — Minimum wage has been increased to $20.52 per hour in Montgomery County after county commissioners voted to pass what they call a historic increase on Wednesday.

The move comes as minimum wage remains stagnant at $7.25 in Pennsylvania despite a skyrocketing cost of living, rapidly increasing income inequality, and warnings from advocates of rising homelessness and crime rates.

“Increasing the minimum wage that the county offers is not only the right thing to do for our employees, it's also the right thing to do for our residents,” Montgomery County Commissioner Jamila Winder said in a statement. “This is another way that we’re showing our commitment to making Montgomery County a place where talented individuals want to build their careers. These actions reflect our values: we're here to serve.”

The county's minimum wage had previously stood at $16.51 per hour. Montgomery County passes Allegheny County ($18 an hour) as the highest minimum wage county in Pennsylvania.

The raises will immediately go into effect for the county's 129 employees currently making the old minimum wage rate. Those include many public-facing roles like administrative assistants, clerks, and various court support staff.

In addition to passing Allegheny County, minimum wage in Montgomery County now exceeds nearby Philadelphia ($16.35), Chester ($15.30), and Bucks ($14.36).

Commissioners and other supporters of the move said it would improve livelihoods and invigorate the economy.

“State lawmakers have fought for years to raise the minimum wage, but while Harrisburg continues to deliberate, Montgomery County takes bold action," State Senator Art Haywood said. "By raising wages for public workers, the county is supporting neighbors, families, and entire communities. When workers are paid fairly, neighborhoods thrive, businesses benefit, public trust grows—and dignity wins.”

Pennsylvania is one of 20 states whose minimum wage is the same as the federal minimum wage of $7.25. Efforts to raise the wage to at least $15 have been underway for a decade or more, and were strongly advocated for by Gov. Tom Wolf's administration. However, bills never received much traction in the Republican-controlled legislature.

That could be changing, however. Just a few weeks ago, the now-Democratic run state House passed a bill that would raise the minimum wage in the state's most populous counties to $15 an hour, while other counties would see a more modest raise to $12 an hour. It's not yet clear if there is sufficient bipartisan appetite for the bill to move through the Republican state Senate.