OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - Hobby Lobby Stores, Inc. says it's raising its minimum wage for full-time employees to $13 per hour.

The Oklahoma City-based retail chain announced Monday that part-time employees' pay would increase to $9 per hour.

The company has more than 500 arts and crafts stores in 41 states, and the increase will affect more than 15,300 employees nationwide. Hobby Lobby notes that its minimum wage for full-time workers is far above the national minimum wage of $7.25.

Last year, Hobby Lobby raised its minimum wage to $12 per hour.

The company says it's the fourth year in the row that it's offered pay increases to workers. CEO and founder David Green says Hobby Lobby workers are key to the company's success and that they deserve to be rewarded for their work.