Florida Minimum Wage 2026: $14.00 Now, $15.00 on September 30, 2026
Florida minimum wage is $14.00 per hour until September 29, 2026, then rises to $15.00 on September 30, 2026; the tipped cash wage moves from $10.98 to $11.98.
The Florida minimum wage is $14.00 per hour through September 29, 2026, and rises to $15.00 per hour on September 30, 2026. The tipped cash wage moves from $10.98 to $11.98 on the same date. This is the last of the one-dollar annual steps that Florida voters approved in November 2020 under Amendment 2, and it puts the state $7.75 above the federal minimum of $7.25. Florida does not allow cities or counties to set their own minimum wage, so a single rate applies from Pensacola to Key West. See how Florida compares in our minimum wage by state guide.
Current Florida Minimum Wage
Florida's minimum wage lives in Article X, Section 24 of the state constitution, which is why it changes on September 30 rather than January 1. The current rate of $14.00 took effect September 30, 2025, and the US Department of Labor's state minimum wage table lists it at that level as of July 1, 2026. FloridaCommerce (formerly the Department of Economic Opportunity) publishes the official poster each year, and the 2026 poster confirms the $15.00 rate and $11.98 tipped cash wage effective September 30, 2026.
The Florida rate applies to every employee who is covered by the federal Fair Labor Standards Act, which means almost all hourly workers in the state. There is no small-employer tier and no separate youth rate. Employers must pay the higher of the state and federal rate, which in practice is always the state rate.
Florida Minimum Wage vs Federal Minimum Wage
| Rate | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Federal minimum wage | $7.25 | Unchanged since July 24, 2009 |
| Florida minimum wage (now) | $14.00 | September 30, 2025 to September 29, 2026 |
| Florida minimum wage (from September 30, 2026) | $15.00 | Final Amendment 2 step |
| Local rates | None | Florida preempts local minimum wage ordinances |
Florida's rate has nearly doubled since 2020, when it was $8.56. Employers in the hospitality, retail and contact center sectors that dominate the state's economy have absorbed five consecutive one-dollar increases.
Tipped Minimum Wage in Florida
Florida allows a tip credit of $3.02 per hour, which is the same credit the state has used since 2003. That means:
- Until September 29, 2026, tipped employees must receive a cash wage of at least $10.98 per hour ($14.00 minus $3.02).
- From September 30, 2026, the cash wage rises to $11.98 per hour ($15.00 minus $3.02).
Tips must make up the difference. If a server's cash wage plus tips for the workweek comes to less than the full minimum wage for the hours worked, the employer must pay the shortfall. Employers must also tell tipped employees in advance that a tip credit is being taken, and tip pools may only include employees who customarily receive tips. Florida's cash wage is far above the federal $2.13 because the tip credit is fixed in dollars rather than as a share of the minimum wage.
Florida Minimum Wage Increase Schedule
Amendment 2 set a fixed path: $10.00 on September 30, 2021, then one dollar every September 30 until the rate reached $15.00 in 2026. After that, the constitution returns to the previous formula, adjusting the rate each year for inflation based on the consumer price index for urban wage earners and clerical workers in the South region. The first inflation adjustment will take effect September 30, 2027 and will be announced by FloridaCommerce in advance.
| Effective date | Minimum wage | Tipped cash wage |
|---|---|---|
| January 1, 2021 | $8.65 | $5.63 |
| September 30, 2021 | $10.00 | $6.98 |
| September 30, 2022 | $11.00 | $7.98 |
| September 30, 2023 | $12.00 | $8.98 |
| September 30, 2024 | $13.00 | $9.98 |
| September 30, 2025 | $14.00 | $10.98 |
| September 30, 2026 | $15.00 | $11.98 |
| September 30, 2027 | CPI adjustment | CPI adjustment minus $3.02 |
Because the increase lands on September 30, a pay period that straddles the date must be split: hours worked on or after September 30 are paid at the new rate. Payroll systems that only support January 1 rate changes need a manual override.
Local Minimum Wages in Florida
Florida has no city or county minimum wages. Section 218.077 of the Florida Statutes preempts local governments from setting a minimum wage for private employers, so Miami, Orlando, Tampa and Jacksonville all use the statewide rate. The one exception is that local governments may set living wage requirements for their own contractors, which affects companies bidding on city or county work but not the general workforce. Employers with staff in several Florida cities can run a single rate table.
Who Is Covered and Who Is Exempt
Florida's constitutional minimum wage covers everyone the federal FLSA covers, and the state adopts the federal exemptions. The main groups outside the rate are:
- Exempt salaried employees who pass the federal duties tests and earn at least $684 per week. Florida has no higher state threshold. See exempt vs non-exempt employees.
- Federally exempt workers such as certain agricultural workers, casual babysitters and companions for the elderly.
- Tipped employees, who are covered but may be paid the $10.98 cash wage plus tips.
- Independent contractors, who are not employees. Misclassification exposes the business to back wages under both state and federal law.
Florida does allow the federal youth minimum wage of $4.25 for the first 90 consecutive calendar days of employment for workers under 20, but because the federal opportunity wage is so far below the state rate, most employers do not use it and state enforcement treats it narrowly. Confirm with FloridaCommerce before relying on it.
Overtime and the Minimum Wage
Florida has no state overtime law, so the federal rule applies: non-exempt employees earn 1.5 times their regular rate for hours over 40 in a workweek. There is no daily overtime. Read the full rules in our guide to overtime pay laws in the US.
A minimum wage employee working 45 hours in a week before September 30, 2026 earns:
| Hours | Rate | Pay |
|---|---|---|
| 40 regular hours | $14.00 | $560.00 |
| 5 overtime hours | $21.00 | $105.00 |
| Weekly gross pay | $665.00 |
At $15.00 the same week is worth $712.50. The overtime calculator handles any combination of hours and rates.
What a Minimum Wage Worker Earns in Florida
| Period | Hours | At $14.00 | At $15.00 (from September 30, 2026) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Week | 40 | $560.00 | $600.00 |
| Month (average) | 173.33 | $2,426.62 | $2,599.95 |
| Year | 2,080 | $29,120.00 | $31,200.00 |
These are gross figures; Florida has no state income tax, so the main deductions are federal income tax and FICA. See gross pay vs net pay for a worked example, and use the salary to hourly calculator to convert other figures.
Employer Compliance Checklist
- Download and post the 2026 Florida minimum wage poster from FloridaCommerce before September 30, 2026; the poster is required in a conspicuous place.
- Schedule the rate change for September 30, not the start of the pay period, and split any straddling pay period.
- Raise tipped cash wages to $11.98 on the same date and re-check that tips bring every tipped employee to $15.00 for every workweek.
- Give tipped employees written notice of the tip credit.
- Keep accurate time records; Florida employees can sue for unpaid minimum wages plus liquidated damages and attorney fees after a 15-day notice period. A time card calculator is a quick way to audit weekly totals.
- Review exempt classifications against the federal $684 weekly salary threshold.
- See the full Florida labor law guide for breaks, final pay and other rules.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the minimum wage in Florida in 2026?
$14.00 per hour until September 29, 2026, and $15.00 per hour from September 30, 2026.
When does Florida minimum wage go up to $15?
September 30, 2026. It is the final scheduled step under Amendment 2, approved by voters in 2020.
What is the tipped minimum wage in Florida?
$10.98 per hour now and $11.98 from September 30, 2026. Florida's tip credit is fixed at $3.02 per hour.
Is Florida minimum wage going up in 2027?
Yes, but by inflation rather than a fixed dollar amount. From September 30, 2027 the rate is adjusted each year using the consumer price index, and FloridaCommerce announces the new figure before it takes effect.
Does Miami or Orlando have a higher minimum wage?
No. Florida law preempts local minimum wages for private employers, so every city uses the statewide rate.
Why does Florida's minimum wage change on September 30?
Because the rate is set by the state constitution, which specifies September 30 as the annual adjustment date.
Does the Florida minimum wage apply to part-time and seasonal workers?
Yes. Any employee covered by the FLSA, including part-time, seasonal and temporary staff, must be paid at least the state minimum wage for every hour worked.
What can employees do if they are paid less than the Florida minimum wage?
After giving the employer 15 days of written notice to resolve the claim, an employee can sue for the unpaid wages, an equal amount in liquidated damages, and attorney fees. Employers may not retaliate against workers who assert their rights.
Sources
- Florida Constitution, Article X, Section 24 (Florida minimum wage)
- FloridaCommerce: Required Posters and Notices, including the 2026 minimum wage poster
- US Department of Labor: State Minimum Wage Laws
- US Department of Labor: Minimum Wages for Tipped Employees
- NCSL: State Minimum Wages
Reviewed September 2026
Florida's rate changes every September 30, and inflation adjustments begin in 2027. Confirm the current figure with FloridaCommerce before setting pay rates.
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