As of 2021, the state of Oklahoma has a minimum wage of $7.25 per hour. This is the same rate as the federal minimum wage. However, in 2023, the situation may be significantly different.
The most likely scenario for Oklahoma in 2023 is that the minimum wage will remain unchanged at $7.25 per hour. This is because Oklahoma does not have a law that requires the state to adjust its minimum wage in accordance with the rate of inflation. Many states do have such laws, and since Oklahoma does not, the minimum wage is likely to remain the same.
However, the state of Oklahoma is not helpless in the face of rising costs of living. Proponents of a higher minimum wage have long been advocating for a raise, arguing that it is essential to reducing poverty and increasing the standard of living of all workers. They have proposed a living wage, which would be adjusted annually in line with the local cost of living. While this is not currently an option in Oklahoma, it is possible that 2023 could see such a wage introduced.
Another potential future for the minimum wage in Oklahoma could be an increase to $9.00 per hour, which is the wage adopted by many states in recent years. Alternatively, Oklahomans may decide to link their minimum wage to the federal wage, so that it increases with it when Congress raises the federal rate.
It is also possible that the minimum wage in Oklahoma could remain unchanged at $7.25 per hour in 2023, as there are many forces working against an increase. Oklahoma is a right-leaning state, and many of its citizens and lawmakers do not favor a higher minimum wage. Additionally, Oklahoma is facing a large budget deficit and is unlikely to be able to afford a wage increase in 2023.
Regardless of the future of minimum wage in Oklahoma, it is important to understand that a change in the wage floor is essential to providing all workers with a living wage. As the cost of living continues to rise, the minimum wage needs to be raised in order to ensure a reasonable standard of living for all people. In 2023, Oklahoma will need to make this decision in order to protect its lowest-paid workers.
