Here’s the schedule for Virginia’s minimum wage increases

Virginia is on its way to a $15 per-hour minimum wage by 2028 after Gov. Abigail Spanberger signed legislation April 9 calling for the current $12.77 wage to raise incrementally over the next two years.

House Bill 1 and Senate Bill 1, both of which were pushed by state Democrats and passed along partisan lines, call for the wage to go up to $13.75 an hour on Jan. 1, 2027 and to $15 on Jan. 1, 2028. After 2028, the wage will automatically be adjusted to keep up with inflation.

Most hourly workers and domestic workers in Virginia are covered by the raise. In a move approved by the General Assembly and Spanberger this year, the 2027 raise will also apply to farm workers.

In a statement released by her office after the bills were signed, Spanberger said the increase boosts “Virginia’s competitive advantage [which] is our talent.” The hikes help “young Virginians earn a good living, but it makes clear to businesses across the nation that they will thrive” in Virginia,” she said.

“Today, we are putting more money in the pockets of Virginia workers,” Spanberger said. “If you work full time in Virginia, you should be able to afford to live in Virginia. You should be able to keep up with your rent or mortgage, fill your medications, and save for your kids’ futures. I am signing legislation to support the men and women who power our economy, including so many of the people who keep our agriculture industry strong.”

Not covered by the increases are certain salaried employees such as upper management, administrative personnel, professional employees, outside sales personnel, tipped employees subject to tip‑credit rules, minors under the age of 16 and short‑term trainees.

The raise puts Virginia on par with Maryland and Delaware, and higher than Kentucky, North Carolina, West Virginia and Tennessee. It remains behind the rates in the District of Columbia and its Maryland suburbs of Montgomery and Howard counties, ranging from $17.95 in D.C. to $17 in Montgomery and $16 in Howard.

Increases throughout the 2020s

Virginia’s minimum wage has seen steady increases since laws were passed in 2020 to go from $7.25 − the federal minimum wage − to $9.50 in 2021, to $11 in 2022 and $12 in 2023.

In 2025, the pay statute was amended to include consumer price index-related increases based on inflation. As of January of this year, the CPI-adjusted wage was $12.77 per hour.

Legislation in the 2026 General Assembly was sponsored by two Tidewater-area Democratic legislators, Del. Jeoin Ward of Hampton and Sen. Louise Lucas of Portsmouth.

Other bills signed

Spanberger also signed several other economic-related bills on April 9, including:

• Bringing new workers into Virginia’s offshore wind industry.
• Increase access to culinary arts or information technology apprenticeships for high school students.
• Train high school students to become certified nursing aides.
• Give furloughed federal workers during government shutdowns extensions on personal property tax payments.
• Help federal workers fired under Department of Government Efficiency cuts to get state job opportunities.
• Establish a Virginia state intership coordinator to help students interested in public service.
• Give local workforce development boards flexibility to invest in local workforces.

Bill Atkinson (he/him/his) has won numerous awards during his 40-year journalism career. A Petersburg native, Bill is a 1984 graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond with a degree in mass communications. He specializes in coverage of breaking news, crime, government, and local/state/national politics. He is an avid history buff and a lifelong Washington Commanders fan. Reach him at [email protected] with news tips and story suggestions.

This article originally appeared on The Progress-Index: Here’s the schedule for Virginia’s minimum wage increases

Reporting by Bill Atkinson, Petersburg Progress-Index / The Progress-Index

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