HARRISBURG, Pa. - A Republican state senator has announced his plan to introduce legislation that would increase Pennsylvania's minimum wage to $11 per hour by 2028.

Sen. Daniel Laughlin of Erie, who represents the 49th Senate District, circulated a memo to all Senate members outlining a phased approach to the wage increase. The proposal would raise the state's minimum wage to $9 per hour on January 1, 2026, followed by an increase to $10 per hour on January 1, 2027, and finally to $11 per hour on January 1, 2028.

Pennsylvania’s current minimum wage is $7.25 per hour, a rate that has been in place since 2009. According to Laughlin’s memo, this places Pennsylvania among the states with a low minimum wage compared to the federal rate.

Laughlin’s proposal follows the Pennsylvania House of Representatives' passage of a separate minimum wage bill in June. That bill, HB 1549, offers a tiered system for wage increases based on county population, with some counties reaching a $15 per hour minimum wage by 2028. The House bill is currently awaiting consideration in the state Senate’s Labor and Industry Committee.

Laughlin's memo states that a wage increase can improve financial stability for workers, reduce reliance on public assistance, and boost consumer spending. He cited neighboring states, including New York, New Jersey, and Maryland, as examples of places that have taken steps to raise their minimum wage.

For comparison, Ohio's minimum wage is $10.70 per hour for non-tipped employees. Ohio’s minimum wage is adjusted annually based on inflation. For employees at businesses with annual gross receipts of $394,000 or less, and for 14- and 15-year-olds, the Ohio minimum wage remains $7.25 per hour, tied to the federal rate.