2026 rates · All 50 states + DC · Source: U.S. Department of Labor
Tipped minimum wage by state
What your employer must pay you in cash, how much tip credit they can take, and the states where tips can't touch your base pay at all.
We'll check it against your state's floor and show the credit your employer is taking.
Worried your pay doesn't add up? Run the full Am I Being Paid Correctly? check.
Compare
Every state at a glance
Click a column to sort. Federal baseline: $7.25 minimum · $2.13 cash wage.
| State ↕ | Minimum wage ↕ | Cash wage ↕ | Max tip credit ↕ | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | $13.00 | $13.00 | — none allowed | |
| California | $16.90 | $16.90 | — none allowed | Many California cities set higher minimums (LA, SF, San Diego…). Daily overtime applies after 8 hours/day. |
| Minnesota | $11.41 | $11.41 | — none allowed | |
| Montana | $10.85 | $10.85 | — none allowed | Small businesses not covered by FLSA with gross sales ≤ $110,000: $4.00. |
| Nevada | $12.00 | $12.00 | — none allowed | |
| Oregon | $15.05 | $15.05 | — none allowed | Portland metro: $16.30 · non-urban counties: $14.05. |
| Washington | $17.13 | $17.13 | — none allowed | Seattle and several cities are higher. |
| Arizona | $15.15 | $12.15 | $3.00 | |
| Arkansas | $11.00 | $2.63 | $8.37 | |
| Colorado | $15.16 | $12.14 | $3.02 | Denver and some localities are higher. |
| Connecticut | $16.94 | $6.38 | $10.56 | Hotel/restaurant service: $6.38 cash · bartenders: $8.23. |
| Delaware | $15.00 | $2.23 | $12.77 | |
| District of Columbia | $17.95 | $10.00 | $7.95 | DC is phasing out the tip credit (Initiative 82) — cash wage rises each year. |
| Florida | $14.00 | $10.98 | $3.02 | |
| Hawaii | $16.00 | $14.75 | $1.25 | Tip credit allowed only if cash + tips ≥ $7.00 above minimum wage ($23.00/hr). |
| Idaho | $7.25 | $3.35 | $3.90 | |
| Illinois | $15.00 | $9.00 | $6.00 | Chicago is higher and is phasing out its tip credit. |
| Iowa | $7.25 | $4.35 | $2.90 | |
| Maine | $15.10 | $7.55 | $7.55 | |
| Maryland | $15.00 | $3.63 | $11.37 | |
| Massachusetts | $15.00 | $6.75 | $8.25 | |
| Michigan | $13.73 | $5.49 | $8.24 | |
| Missouri | $15.00 | $7.50 | $7.50 | |
| New Hampshire | $7.25 | $3.27 | $3.98 | |
| New Jersey | $15.92 | $6.05 | $9.87 | |
| New Mexico | $12.00 | $3.00 | $9.00 | Santa Fe and Albuquerque are higher. |
| New York | $16.00 | varies | varies | NYC, Long Island & Westchester: $17.00 minimum. Tipped cash wage varies by region and industry (hospitality wage orders) — check the NY DOL rate for your job. |
| North Dakota | $7.25 | $4.86 | $2.39 | |
| Ohio | $11.00 | $5.50 | $5.50 | Employers grossing under $405,000/year follow the federal $7.25 / $2.13 instead. |
| Oklahoma | $7.25 | $2.13 | $5.12 | |
| Pennsylvania | $7.25 | $2.83 | $4.42 | |
| Rhode Island | $16.00 | $3.89 | $12.11 | |
| South Dakota | $11.85 | $5.93 | $5.92 | |
| Vermont | $14.42 | $7.21 | $7.21 | |
| Wisconsin | $7.25 | $2.33 | $4.92 | |
| West Virginia | $8.75 | $2.62 | $6.13 | |
| Alabama | $7.25 | $2.13 | $5.12 | No state minimum wage law — federal FLSA applies. |
| Georgia | $7.25 | $2.13 | $5.12 | State minimum is below federal — FLSA applies to most workers. |
| Indiana | $7.25 | $2.13 | $5.12 | |
| Kansas | $7.25 | $2.13 | $5.12 | |
| Kentucky | $7.25 | $2.13 | $5.12 | |
| Louisiana | $7.25 | $2.13 | $5.12 | No state minimum wage law — federal FLSA applies. |
| Mississippi | $7.25 | $2.13 | $5.12 | No state minimum wage law — federal FLSA applies. |
| Nebraska | $15.00 | $2.13 | $12.87 | |
| North Carolina | $7.25 | $2.13 | $5.12 | |
| South Carolina | $7.25 | $2.13 | $5.12 | No state minimum wage law — federal FLSA applies. |
| Tennessee | $7.25 | $2.13 | $5.12 | No state minimum wage law — federal FLSA applies. |
| Texas | $7.25 | $2.13 | $5.12 | |
| Utah | $7.25 | $2.13 | $5.12 | |
| Virginia | $12.77 | $2.13 | $10.64 | |
| Wyoming | $7.25 | $2.13 | $5.12 |
Frequently asked
Tip credit FAQ
What is a tip credit?
The tip credit lets an employer count part of your tips toward the minimum wage, paying a lower direct cash wage — as long as cash + tips reach the full minimum every workweek. Federal law allows up to $5.12 of credit against the $7.25 minimum; many states allow less, and seven states ban the practice entirely.
Which states don’t allow a tip credit at all?
Alaska, California, Minnesota, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington. There, employers must pay the full state minimum wage in cash before tips — your tips are 100% on top.
My city’s minimum wage is higher than the state’s. Which applies?
The highest rate that covers you wins. Cities like NYC, Chicago, Seattle, Denver, and many California cities set higher local minimums than their states. This page shows state-level rates.
What if my cash wage plus tips still doesn’t reach the minimum?
Your employer must make up the difference for that workweek — that’s the condition attached to every tip credit. If they don’t, use our Am I Being Paid Correctly checker and consider a Wage and Hour Division complaint.
When do these rates change?
Most states adjust on January 1 (a few mid-year). These figures are the Department of Labor’s published 2026 rates. Spot an outdated number? Use the report link below — corrections get priority.
Rates change every January — and cities move faster. See a stale number? Tell us and we'll fix it fast.
Report an issueSources & method
All rates: DOL — Minimum Wages for Tipped Employees (2026 table). Tip credit rules: DOL Fact Sheet #15. State-level rates only — local minimums can be higher, and some states vary by region, industry, or employer size (see Notes). Educational reference, not legal advice.