This year, there are 20 states, plus Washington, DC all across the US, which have increased their workers' minimum wage. In other words, 3 million employees are receiving a salary increase.
Therefore, this year 29 states will have a higher minimum wage than the federal minimum wage, which is still $7.25 an hour.
These city and state-led reforms are mounting pressure on Congress to raise the federal minimum wage, but Congress does not always follow the will of the people, so don't hold your breath, because we're not there yet.
This necessary wage increase may remain a hot button issue as campaign 2016 enters another mud slinging election cycle.
West Coast municipalities led the push for higher wages by breaking the $15 an hour barrier. Seattle and San Francisco passed $15 minimum wage laws, while LA announced a significant wage hike as well.
San Diego raised its wage on New Year's Day from $9 to $9.75 an hour with additional increases in following years.