Oklahoma’s families face the nation’s 6th highest poverty rate. Raising the minimum wage will help change that.

Almost one in six Oklahomans live in poverty, yet for 15 years, Oklahoma lawmakers have failed to raise the minimum wage and give families the tools that they need to become more economically secure. Since 2009, inflation has eroded the purchasing power of the minimum wage by more than a quarter while the cost of living has continued to increase. This means Oklahoma families are struggling to make rent, put food on the table, and provide economic security for their children.

Oklahoma voters have used the initiative petition process to put a minimum wage increase on the ballot. The proposal calls for raising the minimum wage to $15 an hour and guaranteeing it retains its value by tying it to inflation. The governor has scheduled the vote for June 2026, an unprecedented 21 months out from the petition’s approval. If passed, State Question 832 would ensure hard-working Oklahomans do not have to wait for the federal government or Oklahoma lawmakers to act to see their own wages increase.

SQ 832 would increase the income of hard-working low-wage families

In our state, more than 200,000 Oklahomans who make under $15 stand to benefit directly from increasing the wage. Full-time workers could potentially see their annual wages go up by as much as $4,000 by 2029. A common misconception is that most minimum wage workers are teenagers looking to earn some extra cash. However, out of almost 320,000 Oklahomans who would be directly and indirectly affected by raising the minimum wage to $15, only 18 percent are teenagers while nearly 82 percent are age 20 or older. Older workers are more likely to be parents. Growing up in a low-income household negatively affects a child’s psychological and cognitive development, as well as their academic achievements later in life. Conversely, when parents earn a living wage and have income stability, they can afford goods and services that help promote strong childhood development and spend more time with their children. Oklahoma families are facing increasing costs of living, to the point that even “good jobs” simply don’t pay enough to support families.

As it stands, Oklahoma’s minimum wage is far from a living wage, which is a wage that allows a full-time worker to be self-sufficient and meet the costs of basic needs without being cost-burdened. It is important to recognize that a competitive labor market has resulted in some employers offering wages that are higher than the current minimum wage of $7.25 per hour, but low-wage workers, despite having experienced historically fast wage growth in the past four years, continue to struggle to make ends meet. A low-wage job is any occupation that pays less than two-thirds of the median hourly wage. In our state, that means any worker earning less than $13.29 per hour and includes many jobs for everyday Oklahomans, including home health aides, day care workers, and food preparing and serving occupations. While $13.29 per hour is more than 80 percent higher than the current minimum wage, this wage is too low even for a single adult with no children. SQ 832 would create a higher wage floor that brings Oklahomans closer to a living wage and updates yearly to ensure it rises if we face inflation. Increasing the minimum wage is an integral tool in moving Oklahomans closer to economic stability and ensuring Oklahoma’s children are thriving.

When Oklahomans are better off, so is the economy

The bread and butter of any business are its customers. So, when Oklahomans are better off, the economy is stronger as well. A higher minimum wage gives Oklahomans more spendable income to invest back into the economy through their everyday spending. In fact, raising the pay of minimum wage workers by just one dollar an hour can generate more than $2,000 in consumer spending in a year; that is money that goes directly back into the local economy and to small businesses. In this sense, raising the minimum wage is not just good for employees but also has positive spillover effects for employers. For instance, higher wages can help businesses recruit and retain workers, saving them from high worker turnover that can cost employers thousands of dollars in training and decreased productivity.

Raising the minimum wage also has the potential to reduce poverty by bringing Oklahomans closer to a living wage, particularly for women and people of color who disproportionately work in low-wage jobs. Poverty is associated with poor health outcomes, lower lifetime earnings, and lack of economic mobility. All these factors negatively impact people’s lives and the economy. Simply put, paying Oklahomans a livable wage reduces poverty, improves people’s lives, and stimulates local economies.

States around Oklahoma have raised the minimum wage and reaped the benefits

Oklahoma can look at neighboring states to understand how higher wages might impact the economy. States like Arkansas, Missouri, and Colorado have raised their minimum wages with ballot initiatives and voter-supported constitutional amendments. New Mexico raised its minimum wage through legislation. In all four states, their economies have remained strong. In Missouri and Arkansas, the number of businesses and employment levels have grown since the minimum wage ballot initiatives in those states.

In general, raising the minimum wage around the country has also narrowed the wage gap and resulted in significant wage growth for historically disadvantaged low-wage workers. Oklahoma’s neighboring states have raised wages for their workers without detrimental economic effects; Oklahoma now has an opportunity to do the same by voting on SQ 832.

A higher minimum wage would begin to address the state’s high poverty rates

Raising the minimum wage is an important policy tool that can help directly address Oklahoma’s persistently high poverty rates and provide economic relief to hard-working Oklahoma families.

From the economy to a person’s quality of life, raising the minimum wage has a myriad of positive effects. Without action, our low minimum wage will continue to subject our friends and neighbors to the volatility of inflation and leave our poverty rates unaddressed. It is clear that Oklahomans are long due to a minimum wage increase. On June 16, 2026, Oklahomans will finally be able to vote on SQ 832 and ensure Oklahoma’s minimum wage is raised so everyday residents can afford life’s most basic necessities.