RICHMOND, Va. (CBS19 NEWS) -- The state is on its way to raising the minimum wage for thousands of workers making $7.25 an hour.

After a tough negotiation between both chambers of the General Assembly, the minimum wage will increase from $7.25 per hour to $9.50  per hour on Jan. 1, 2021.

A year later, it will increase again to $10.50 an hour on July 1, 2022,  and then $11.50 per hour, effective July 1, 2023.

The minimum wage will top out at $15 an hour after that.

Kim Bobo, the executive director of Virginia Interfaith Worker Justice, 
says not all workers in Virginia will be getting the wage hikes.

"The bill continues to exempt farmworkers from the minimum wage. That's no change from the existing code, but we believe that farmworkers who frankly do some of the hardest work in our society deserve to be paid the minimum wage and they continue to be exempted from it in this bill," she said.

Cleaning professionals, delivery drivers, and some retail and restaurant workers are examples of minimum wage jobs.

Governor Ralph Northam is expected to sign the bill within the next 30 days.