Minnesota's minimum wage goes up August 1, after a legislative change that sets in motion a series of increases in coming years.

Starting Friday, employees at large companies must be paid $8 an hour under the new law; that's up from the current state minimum of $6.15, although the federal minimum wage has been $7.25 since 2009.

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For small employers, (under $500,000 in sales) must now pay $6.50 an hour, up from $5.25.

Going forward, the minimums will be:

Large employers:

• $9 an hour on Aug. 1, 2015
• $9.50 on Aug. 1, 2016

Small employers:

• $7.25 on Aug. 1, 2015
• $7.75 on Aug. 1, 2016

In January 2018, the rates will be indexed to inflation based on economic conditions.

Governor Mark Dayton, who signed the legislation, said: “Raising the minimum wage will improve the lives of more than 325,000 hard-working Minnesotans. I thank the Legislature for recognizing the need to make work pay in Minnesota.”