The Johnson County Board of Supervisors voted to increase the County’s recommended minimum wage by 69 cents to $12.25 per hour, effective Saturday, July 1, 2023. The Board of Supervisors used Consumer Price Index data to set the increase, which is based on inflation.

Though the wage increase is symbolic in nature and unenforceable under State law, the Supervisors approved the increase to remain in line with the Board’s vote in September 2015 to begin phased increases. The Board of Supervisors has voted to increase the minimum wage in Johnson County since 2015.

The State of Iowa’s minimum wage was increased to $7.25 per hour in 2008, ahead of the Federal increase to $7.25 in 2009, but has remained at $7.25 and is not indexed for inflation.

On Sept. 10, 2015, the Johnson County Board of Supervisors passed an ordinance (#09-10-15-01) establishing a Johnson County minimum wage. According to that ordinance, the minimum wage in Johnson County was raised in three steps – to $8.20 per hour on Nov. 1, 2015, to $9.15 per hour on May 1, 2016, and to $10.10 per hour on Jan. 1, 2017.

On March 30, 2017, Governor Terry Branstad signed legislation eliminating the ability of jurisdictions within the State of Iowa to set a minimum wage above the State minimum wage. Johnson County had a higher minimum wage than the State for 17 months, including three months when it was $10.10 per hour.

More information on the minimum wage ordinance is available at www.johnsoncountyiowa.gov/wage.

Questions about the ordinance may be directed to the Johnson County Board of Supervisors at 319-356-6000 or [email protected].