Idaho Minimum Wage 2026: $7.25, $3.35 Tipped, $4.25 Training Wage
Idaho minimum wage is $7.25 per hour in 2026, equal to the federal rate. Tipped employees get a $3.35 cash wage and workers under 20 may be paid $4.25 for their first 90 days. No local rates, no scheduled increase. Coverage, overtime, and an employer checklist.
The Idaho minimum wage is $7.25 per hour in 2026, identical to the federal minimum wage and unchanged since 2009. Idaho Code section 44-1502 ties the state rate to the federal one. Tipped employees must receive a cash wage of at least $3.35 per hour, which is higher than the federal $2.13, and employers may pay new hires under 20 a training wage of $4.25 per hour for their first 90 consecutive calendar days. Idaho has no local minimum wages and no increase scheduled.
Reviewed September 2026
Figures come from the Idaho Department of Labor's labor law FAQ, which cites Idaho Code 44-1502, and the US Department of Labor's July 1, 2026 state and tipped wage tables. Idaho's rate changes only if the federal rate changes or the legislature acts. Confirm exemptions with the Idaho Department of Labor before paying any rate below $7.25.
Current Idaho Minimum Wage
Idaho's minimum wage is $7.25 per hour. The Idaho Department of Labor FAQ lists the current rate at $7.25, the tipped rate at $3.35, and the training wage at $4.25 for the first 90 consecutive calendar days for employees under 20. The US Department of Labor table shows Idaho at $7.25 with no premium pay or scheduled change.
Idaho is one of the states where the minimum wage debate has been settled by preemption rather than by increases. The legislature barred local governments from setting their own minimum wage in 2016, so every Idaho employer works from the same $7.25 floor, and the only variation comes from the tipped and training rates.
Idaho Minimum Wage vs Federal Minimum Wage
| Measure | Idaho (2026) | Federal (2026) | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hourly minimum wage | $7.25 | $7.25 | $0.00 |
| Tipped cash wage | $3.35 | $2.13 | $1.22 |
| Maximum tip credit | $3.90 | $5.12 | $1.22 less |
| Training wage (under 20, 90 days) | $4.25 | $4.25 | $0.00 |
| Weekly pay at 40 hours | $290.00 | $290.00 | $0.00 |
| Annual pay at 2,080 hours | $15,080 | $15,080 | $0.00 |
| Last increase | July 24, 2009 | July 24, 2009 |
The state and federal headline rates match, so the only state-specific number to get right is the $3.35 tipped cash wage.
Tipped Minimum Wage in Idaho
Idaho requires a cash wage of at least $3.35 per hour for tipped employees, defined in the state FAQ as employees who receive tips, and the DOL tipped table lists the maximum tip credit at $3.90. If cash wage plus tips does not reach $7.25 for every hour worked in the pay period, the employer must make up the difference.
Idaho employers sometimes copy the federal $2.13 from a national payroll template. That is an underpayment of $1.22 per hour for every tipped hour, and it compounds quickly across a restaurant staff. Set the cash wage to $3.35 and reconcile tips each pay period.
Idaho Minimum Wage Increase Schedule
Idaho does not index its minimum wage and has no scheduled increase. The rate has followed the federal schedule since the state matched it in the 2007 to 2009 federal step-up.
| Effective date | Rate | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| July 24, 2007 | $5.85 | Federal step 1 |
| July 24, 2008 | $6.55 | Federal step 2 |
| July 24, 2009 | $7.25 | Federal step 3 |
| 2010 to 2026 | $7.25 | No change |
Ballot initiatives to raise the rate have been proposed in Idaho in past years but none has qualified and passed as of September 2026. Employers should not expect a change without a federal increase.
Local Minimum Wages in Idaho
None. Idaho preempts local minimum wage ordinances, so Boise, Meridian, Nampa, Idaho Falls, and every other city pays the state $7.25. Employers near the Washington and Oregon borders face a large gap: Washington's minimum wage is $17.13 and Oregon's standard rate is $15.55 in 2026, so a worker who splits time between Post Falls, Idaho and Spokane, Washington is paid $7.25 for Idaho hours and $17.13 for Washington hours.
Who Is Covered and Who Is Exempt
Idaho's minimum wage law covers most employees, with exemptions that mirror the federal list:
- Bona fide executive, administrative, and professional employees who meet the salary and duties tests
- Certain agricultural workers
- Domestic workers in private homes in limited cases
- Some seasonal recreational employees
- Employees under 20 during the 90-day training period, who may be paid $4.25
A salary alone does not create an exemption. Read exempt vs non-exempt employees for the duties tests. A full-time minimum wage worker in Idaho earns $15,080 a year, well under the $35,568 federal salary threshold, so minimum wage workers cannot be classified as exempt.
Overtime and the Minimum Wage
Idaho has no state overtime statute; the federal FLSA applies. Overtime is 1.5 times the regular rate after 40 hours in a workweek, with no daily overtime. A 45-hour week at minimum wage pays:
| Component | Hours | Rate | Pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular | 40 | $7.25 | $290.00 |
| Overtime | 5 | $10.88 | $54.38 |
| Total | 45 | $344.38 |
Tipped employees' overtime is based on $7.25, not the $3.35 cash wage. See overtime pay laws by state and the overtime calculator.
What a Minimum Wage Worker Earns in Idaho
| Period | Hours | At $7.25 | At $4.25 (training wage) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Week | 40 | $290.00 | $170.00 |
| Month | 173.33 | $1,256.64 | $736.65 |
| Year | 2,080 | $15,080 | $8,840 (not permitted for a full year; 90-day limit) |
Gross figures before deductions. Use the salary to hourly calculator for other rates and see gross pay for withholdings.
Employer Compliance Checklist
- Pay $7.25 to every non-exempt employee and $3.35 in cash to tipped employees, not the federal $2.13.
- Limit the $4.25 training wage to employees under 20 and to their first 90 consecutive calendar days; track both the birthdate and the start date.
- Reconcile tips every pay period so cash wage plus tips reaches $7.25 per hour.
- Apply federal overtime after 40 hours using $7.25 as the base for tipped staff.
- Post the Idaho and federal minimum wage notices.
- Keep accurate hour records. A time card calculator works for a handful of employees; automated tracking is safer for shift-based teams.
See minimum wage by state for every other state.
Get Tipped and Training Wages Right
HiveDesk tracks hours per employee so you can apply the $3.35 cash wage, the 90-day training window, and federal overtime from real time data. $5/user/month, 14-day free trial.
How the Federal Youth Wage Works in Idaho
Idaho's $4.25 training wage is the federal youth minimum wage adopted into state law, so the federal conditions apply in full:
- Age. The employee must be under 20 on the day the rate is paid. The rate ends on the employee's 20th birthday even if the 90 days have not run.
- Duration. The 90 days are consecutive calendar days from the first day of work, not days actually worked. A part-timer hired on June 1 reaches day 90 on August 29 whether they worked 10 shifts or 60.
- No displacement. An employer may not lay off, reduce the hours of, or replace a worker paid the full minimum in order to hire someone at the youth wage.
- One clock per employer. A rehire who already used the 90 days with the same employer is owed the full $7.25.
Tipped teenagers add a second layer: the $3.35 cash wage floor applies, and cash wage plus tips must still reach the applicable minimum for the pay period.
Common Minimum Wage Mistakes in Idaho
Idaho's headline rate is federal, so the mistakes are in the details:
- Copying the federal $2.13 tipped wage. Idaho requires $3.35 in cash. A restaurant with ten servers on 30-hour weeks underpays by more than $350 a week at $2.13.
- Using the $4.25 training wage for anyone over 19. The rate is limited to employees under 20 and to their first 90 consecutive calendar days. Both conditions must hold.
- Counting the 90 days as working days. They are consecutive calendar days from the date of hire, so a part-time teenager's window closes just as fast as a full-timer's.
- Skipping the tip make-up when a week runs slow. Cash wage plus tips must reach $7.25 for every hour in the pay period.
- Paying tipped overtime on $3.35. The overtime rate for a tipped employee is 1.5 times $7.25, minus the tip credit, not 1.5 times $3.35.
- Assuming a Boise or Ada County rate exists. Idaho preempts local minimum wages; there is none.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the minimum wage in Idaho in 2026?
$7.25 per hour, the same as the federal minimum wage.
Is Idaho's minimum wage going up?
No increase is scheduled. Idaho's rate is tied to the federal rate and is not indexed to inflation.
What is the tipped minimum wage in Idaho?
$3.35 per hour in cash, plus tips to reach $7.25. This is higher than the federal $2.13.
Does Idaho have a training wage?
Yes. Employees under 20 may be paid $4.25 per hour for their first 90 consecutive calendar days of employment.
Can Boise set its own minimum wage?
No. Idaho preempts local minimum wage ordinances.
How much is Idaho minimum wage per year?
$15,080 before taxes at 2,080 hours.
Does Idaho require daily overtime?
No. Federal overtime applies after 40 hours in a workweek.
What happens if tips do not reach $7.25?
The employer must pay the difference so the tipped employee receives at least $7.25 for every hour in the pay period.
Sources
- Idaho Department of Labor, Frequently Asked Questions on Labor Laws (cites Idaho Code 44-1502)
- US Department of Labor, State Minimum Wage Laws (as of July 1, 2026)
- US Department of Labor, Minimum Wages for Tipped Employees