New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy signed legislation Monday that will raise the state's minimum wage to $15 per hour by 2024.

Under the plan, passed by the state legislature last week, New Jersey's minimum wage will rise from $8.85 per hour to $10 per hour starting July 1, and will reach $11 per hour by Jan. 1, 2010, according to a press release . It will then increase by $1 per hour every year until 2024.

"For far too long, too many of our fellow New Jerseyans have been struggling to survive on wages that have not kept up with the cost of living," Murphy, a Democrat, said.

He also said in a tweet that the bill will impact more than 1 million workers who will become part of the middle class.

State legislators have tried to raise the minimum wage in the past, but former Republican New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie strongly opposed such a measure. No Republicans voted for the current minimum wage legislation, according to northjersey.com .

The bill was sponsored by Senate President Steve Sweeney and Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin, both Democrats.

"We can now achieve greater economic fairness by closing the wealth gap that has separated segments of society," Sweeney said.