WASHINGTON – Last week Rhode Island joined 11 other states in increasing their minimum wage rates to at least $9 over the next several years, reports the Washington Post.

On Jan. 1, 2015, Rhode Island’s minimum wage will increase by $1 to $9 an hour. The newspaper notes that only three other states currently have a wage rate of a least $9: Washington ($9.32), Oregon ($9.10) and most recently California ($9). Rhode Island will be joined by three other states that are increasing their minimum wage to $9 or more: Massachusetts ($9), Vermont ($9.15) and Connecticut ($9.15). Minnesota, Michigan and New York will increase their minimum wage rates above $10 per hour.

The Washington Post writes that by 2018, 12 states will have reached or surpassed the $9 level. Washington, D.C., Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Rhode Island, Vermont and West Virginia have enacted minimum wage increases this year, while 34 states have considered doing so.