The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity announced that the Florida minimum wage will increase to $7.67 per hour effective January 1, 2012. This is an increase from Florida's current minimum wage of $7.31 per hour, which became effective June 1, 2011, in response to a Florida Circuit Court decision issued earlier this year. Florida's minimum wage is generally recalculated yearly on September 30, based on the Consumer Price Index.

The Florida minimum wage applies to all employees in the state who are covered by the federal minimum wage. When Florida's minimum wage and the federal minimum wage differ, employers operating within the state are required to comply with whichever standard is higher. Accordingly, with the current increase, Florida's minimum wage exceeds the federal minimum wage and must be applied.

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