Minimum wage hike to raise pay of 100,000 Nevadans

By Cy Ryan

Monday, March 29, 2010 | 4:31 p.m.

CARSON CITY – The minimum wage for an estimated 100,000 Nevada workers will be going up 70 cents an hour starting July 1.

State Labor Commissioner Michael Tanchek said the official details will be announced Friday, but the calculations already have been made.

The federal minimum wage has risen 70 cents an hour in each of the past three years.

For a worker with health insurance coverage from his or her employer, the hourly rate will rise from $6.55 to $7.25, which is equal to the federal rate. For a worker without medical coverage, the rate goes from $7.55 to $8.26 an hour.

Overtime pay will also be increased. For those workers without medical coverage, the rate goes to $12.37 an hour. For those with health insurance, the overtime rate increases with $10.87.

Tanchek is required every year to set the rate on April 1 to be effective July 1. The rate for the coming year will be equal to the federal level for those workers with insurance and $1 more an hour for those without medical coverage.

Kelly Karch, deputy administrator for the state Division of Employment Security, said the latest estimate is 100,800 workers were earning the minimum wage in 2008. That's 7.9 percent of the state's workforce.

There is currently no breakdown of those with or without medical insurance coverage.

The Nevada Constitution bars tips from being counted against the minimum wage.