While federal  and state minimum wage remains at $7.25 per hour in Iowa, some are taking matters into their own hands and making changes for the benefit of their workers.

That includes Johnson County, who, today, ups their average hourly employee minimum wage to $10.40. Officials say it may be mostly symbolic and unenforceable by state law, but supervisors approved an incremental increase in 2015 and say they are upholding their promise to employees.

"Though the legislature took away our power to enforce it, we are upholding our promise to the workers of Johnson County. We encourage local businesses to continue to support this and increase their employee wage to $10.40 on July 1."

The increases started at making minimum wage $8.20 an hour on Nov. 1, 2015; to $9.15 on May 1, 2016, $10.10 on Jan. 1, 2017, and now $10.40. Former Governor Terry Branstad disallowed jurisdictions in Iowa to set their minimum wages higher than the state overall.

A minimum wage advisory committee found in 2017 that increased minimum wage won't hurt business but will benefit employees. Many business owners might dispute that observation.

The states of New Jersey,  California, Connecticut Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York and Washington, D.C., are also raising their minimum wage today.

[Via KCRG, NJ101.5)

More From 104-5 KDAT