Harris County Commissioners Court considers proposal to provide living wage to county workers

March 27, 2025

HOUSTON, Texas –  Today, the Harris County Commissioners Court will consider a proposal from Commissioners Ellis and Briones to provide a living wage for county employees and contractors, a significant win for workers in Texas’s largest county. The new minimum wage for county workers would be $20 per hour, while county contractors would receive $21.65. The wage floor would be indexed to the Livable Wage Calculator to account for inflation, meaning workers can expect their annual pay to increase as basic needs like rent and groceries get more expensive. New Economy for Working Houston (NEW Houston) applauds the commissioners for proposing this thoughtful, adaptive policy. 

“When we build an economy that invests in its workers and gives them what they need to not only survive but instead thrive, everyone is better for it. Local businesses across the county will benefit because Harris County workers - who live and buy locally - have more money in their pockets to spend,” said Amy Zachmeyer, executive director of NEW Houston. “Our commissioners understand that times are hard and the cost of living has gone through the roof. We must pass smart local policies to help our community regain its footing. Harris County has the opportunity to set a fair standard, insisting that public servants deserve to be paid fairly for their work, and all other workers deserve that too.”