Gov. Mark Dayton said he was confident that the DFL-controlled Legislature would pass a minimum wage hike this year but it may take a while.

"Minimum wage is likely going to be one of those issues, the resolution of which is going to be held off until the last minute of the session," Dayton said on Thursday. "We'll get a minimum wage increase."

For two weeks, the House and Senate have been stymied over how to raise the wage floor, which at $6.15 an hour is one of the lowest in the nation.

The House, Senate and Dayton all support raising the wage to $9.50 an hour over time. But the House and Dayton both want future increases to automatically rise with the cost of inflation but Senate leaders say an automatic index lacks the DFL votes to pass in the Senate.

"We will have to wait and see how it plays out over time," Dayton said on a conference call with reporters. The DFL governor had hip surgery last month and has been convalescing away from the Capitol since then.

Dayton said he expects a minimum wage bill to pass but it may have to wait until the final days of session.

"We'll come back to that one. We'll get a minimum wage increase...we will have to work out the detail at the right time," Dayton said.

Graphic by Ray Grumney of the Star Tribune. To see an interactive version of states' minimum wage rates click here.