Wednesday, March 4, the Virginia Senate passed SB1 following approval from the Virginia House of Delegates. This law codifies the state hourly minimum wage of $12.77 per hour that went into effect on Thursday, Jan. 1 this year. The law seeks to gradually increase Virginia’s minimum wage to $13.75 per hour on January 1, 2027 and to $15 per hour starting January 1, 2028.
While Gov. Abigail Spanberger D.P.S. ’26 has not officially signed the bill, she has pledged to do so. Spanberger has until Monday, April 13 at 11:59 p.m. to take action on this legislation. Despite Virginia having the lowest number of low-wage workers compared to other states across the South, tens of thousands of minimum-wage workers across the state are poised to see positive financial improvements from this increase. University workers are especially positioned to benefit from this higher wage.
Among these statewide university workers, students at the College of William and Mary see this increase in Virginia’s minimum wage as beneficial.
Tatem Lydens ’27 is a kinesiology major at the College who works as a building manager for Student Unions and Engagement.
“It’s a lot of interacting with various people that come up, making sure everything around the building is going smoothly,” she said.
Lydens said she works around 10-15 hours per week, where she typically sits at a desk. Lydens’ friend inspired her to apply for the position. She said she has come to appreciate the daily interactions she makes with people who visit the SUE office.
“It’s kind of like the hub for campus,” she said. “Literally everyone comes there.”
Lydens said her hourly wage was around $13 an hour.
Lydens expressed optimism about the wage increase improving her life as a student. She said that seemingly small wage increases can accumulate over time and make an impactful difference.
“I think the [wage increase] would help a lot,” she said. “It’s a few more cents an hour, but in the end, it [can] add up to $15 or $20. In my opinion, that’s an extra meal or an extra trip to the grocery store.”
Bruna Rocha ’27 is a library assistant in the McLeod Business Library in Alan B. Miller Hall and works as a teacher’s assistant for the Economics Stata & R Lab.
Rocha estimated that she works around 11 hours per week between both jobs and makes around $13 per hour.
“I think a wage increase is definitely obviously beneficial for everyone,” Rocha said. “I live off campus, and I don’t have a meal plan, so I have to pay for my own rent and my own groceries.”
Rocha highlighted her interactions with College community members as the most enjoyable aspect of her work.
“I meet a lot of new people, and I feel like my jobs are very related to my major,” she said.
Rocha emphasized the importance of wage increases for students who are not on federal work study.
David deVyver ’26 is an economics and math major at the College who works through the TutorZone. He helps students in economics courses ranging from intermediate macroeconomics and microeconomics to econometrics.
“Students in courses that I’ve taken can sign up, and I will tutor them in any of the classes that we have overlap in,” he said. “It’s usually one-hour sessions, and we meet with the students and teach them course content, help them prepare for exams, any of those kinds of things.”
DeVyver started working as a tutor his sophomore year and appreciates the job’s flexibility.
“I get to pick my hours almost exactly, which is fantastic,” he said.
He said he makes $14 an hour, working between three and 15 hours per week.
“The increase in the minimum wage was pretty helpful,” he said. “I got a 50-cent raise from the TutorZone, and so that obviously adds up a ton.”
DeVyver explained he spends his money on social activities and other essential needs.
“I saved up a good bit of money to go on spring break to Nashville this year and then [paid] for groceries or anything that I need on a day-to-day basis,” he said.
DeVyver sees the proposed increase in the statewide minimum wage as beneficial to wage workers across Virginia, not just those at universities.
“I think it’s absolutely fantastic,” he said. “Everyone benefits a lot from having the opportunity to be paid more.”
