Florida's minimum wage increases on Jan 1, 2012

Florida's minimum wage for non-tipped employees will increase Jan. 1 to $7.67 an hour, a 4.9 percent increase from the $7.31 an hour minimum for 2011, according to the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity.

Wages for tipped employees will rise to $4.65 an hour, up from $4.29. The wage increase is based on the increase of the federal Consumer Price Index for wage workers in the southeastern United States.

Following a 2004 constitutional amendment, Florida is one of 10 states that automatically raise minimum wage rates. The federal rate, now $7.25 an hour, must be raised by an act of Congress.