A holiday gift is coming the way of thousands of Arizona workers with the state minimum wage set to increase to $11 an hour on Jan. 1.

The change is the third of four annual increases that were mandated by voters in 2016.

The increase equals 50 cents an hour with another boost set for 2020 as it will jump to $12, an adjustment for annual inflation rate changes.

Provided tipped employees earn at least the higher minimum for all hours they work, their state minimum wage is $3 an hour less.

Having remain unchanged since 2009 in 21 states, the federal minimum wage is $7.25 an hour.

On Jan. 1, numerous states and cities will increase their minimum wages, with it going to $12 in California, Massachusetts and Washington, and $14 in the District of Columbia.

The wage increase in Arizona results from Proposition 206, a ballot measure that mandated the state minimum increase over the last three years. The measure also required a minimum number of paid sick leave that went into effect in July 2017. 

In recent years, Arizona has become one of the strongest states for personal-income growth. Part of that is due to minimum wage increases, along with a solid economy that has produced a tight job market.