Minimum wage increase announced

For the ninth straight year, Hobby Lobby announced it is raising the minimum wage for hourly employees. Effective April 15, 2017, full-time employees earn at least $15.70 per hour, and part-time employees will earn $10.45 per hour.

Hobby Lobby’s minimum wage for full-time hourly employees is more than double the national rate of $7.25 per hour and higher than any state or city-mandated minimum wage nationwide. The increase raises the pay of more than 10,000 full-time and 10,000 part-time workers.

“Our company would not be successful without the great work employees do each day in our stores,” said CEO and founder David Green. “We know that if we reward our employees for their hard work, we will be rewarded in turn with their loyalty and dedication to their job and our customers.”

Hobby Lobby currently operates more than 750 locations in 47 states. The company is on track to open 60 new stores this year which is expected to create more than 2,000 additional jobs.