The National Employment Law Project reports as many as 14 cities, counties and state governments have been approved to raise hourly pay to $15 starting in 2016.

In addition, 13 states are slated to raise the minimum wage starting or after Jan. 1. The new minimum wage hike is over a 100 percent increase from the $7.25 federal minimum wage currently on the books.

Among the states increasing their minimum pay is Connecticut, which will officially raise its state wage minimum by $0.45 to $9.60 per hour. By 2017, the state is set to increase that amount further to $10.10 per hour.

In New York, Gov. Andrew Cuomo recently announced the state's minimum wage will increase to $15 per hour over the next two years. The pressure to increase the minimum wage has largely been fueled by the tireless effort of fast food workers, who recently banded together to demand a significant upgrade in pay.

"I believe that if you work hard and work full time, you should not be condemned to live in poverty," said Cuomo in last month. "Yet millions of families nationwide continue to be left behind by an insufficient minimum wage - and it's time that changed. ... We are leading by example and creating an economy that is defined by opportunity, not inequality. We are restoring the fairness and economic justice that built the American dream and standing up for what's right. I am proud of what we continue to accomplish, because New Yorkers deserve nothing less."

Meanwhile, legislators in Los Angeles have also vowed to fully phase in a new minimum over a three-year period beginning in 2018.

"We've seen incredible momentum this past year in the fight to raise wages to a level that will make a meaningful difference to America's workers and their families," said Christine Owens, executive director of the National Employment Law Project.

In addition to the states slated to begin making the increases in 2016, 16 states still have pending legislative or ballot proposals on measures to increase minimum wage.

The states on the books to commence phasing increases in 2016 are Alaska ($8.75 to $9.75), Arkansas, ($7.50 to $8), California ($9 to $10), Connecticut ($9.15 to $9.60), Hawaii ($7.75 to $8.50), Maryland ($8.00 to $8.75), Massachusetts ($9 to $10), Michigan ($8.15 to $8.50), Nebraska ($8 to $9), New York ($8.25 to $9), Rhode Island ($9.00 to $9.60), Vermont ($9.15 to $9.60) and West Virginia ($8.00 to $8.75).

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