Minimum wage in Florida is currently $14 per hour, with a few key exceptions. If you own or run a business in the Sunshine State, it’s essential to understand the minimum wage in the state of Florida, so your business stays in compliance and in good standing.
What you’ll learn
What you’ll learn
Key takeaways
- The current minimum wage for the state of Florida is $14 as of September 30, 2025, and it will increase to $15 on September 30, 2026
- The minimum wage for tipped employees is $10.98, with an increase to $11.98 scheduled to take place on September 30, 2026
- After 2026, all of the state’s minimum wage increases will be tied to inflation
- Florida companies are required to display a poster that notes the current minimum wage in an accessible location
This guide breaks down everything Florida employers need to know about current rates, tipped wages, and scheduled increases. Staying ahead of these state and federal rules is the best way to avoid penalties while supporting a positive workplace.
Florida’s current minimum wage rate and scheduled increases
As of September 30, 2025, the minimum wage for the state of Florida is $14. This rate will increase to $15 on September 30, 2026. Florida’s minimum wage is notably higher than the federal minimum wage of $7.25.
For tipped employees, there are some additional state minimum wage laws your business must adhere to:
- Presently, the Florida state minimum wage for tipped employees is $10.98.
- It represents a combined wage, where your business must pay a state minimum wage of at least $10.98 per hour. This rate plus worker tips must total at least the full state minimum wage of $14.00.
- If these minimum wage requirements are not met, your business is required to make up the difference.
- Tipped employees can’t be required to share their tips with managers, cooks, and other employees who don’t regularly earn tips.
After 2026, all adjustments to the minimum wage of Florida will be tied to inflation.
Tipped employees: Understand Florida’s cash wage rules
Your business must pay a cash wage of at least $10.98 per hour as of September 30, 2025, and you can use a tip credit of $3.02 per hour to make up the remainder. If you’re in the restaurant or hospitality industry, it’s important to stay up to date on minimum wage rules and regulations when it comes to tipped employees.
| Wage category | Current wage through September 29, 2026 | Wage effective September 30, 2026 |
| Standard minimum wage | $14 | $15 |
| Tipped employee minimum wage | $10.98 | $11.98 |
| Seasonal workers | $14 | $15 |
| Youth minimum wage (first 90 days for workers under 20) | $4.25 | $4.25, subject to additional state legislation |
| Federal minimum wage (for comparison) | $7.25 | $7.25 |
How minimum wage increases are applied in Florida
Based on a statewide constitutional amendment that required a gradual increase in the state’s minimum wage, Florida’s minimum wage rate will reach $15 per hour on September 30, 2026, following several staged $1 increases over the previous few years. After that time, annual increases in the minimum wage will be adjusted based on inflation.
Employer obligations for compliance
Your business is required to comply with Florida’s minimum wage law by doing the following:
- You must post a minimum wage poster in an accessible and easy-to-see location. The poster must be at least 8.5 by 11 inches.
- You are required to adjust your payroll calculations on the first day applicable to reflect updated minimum wages per hour.
- You must also maintain accurate and complete records, including time cards, payments, and taxes.
- Finally, make sure you clearly communicate any changes in pay or local business laws to all team members.
It is easier to get and stay in compliance than to play catch-up and risk fines after the fact.
How Florida compares to the federal minimum wage
As with many other states, Florida minimum wage laws require a significantly higher minimum wage than the federal minimum wage. For comparison, the state minimum wage laws require $14 per hour for most employees, while federal law only mandates $7.25 per hour.
Presently, 34 states and Washington D.C. have minimum wages that are above the federal minimum wage. Regionally, Florida’s minimum wage is higher than that of Georgia, Kentucky, Tennessee, and South Carolina, which only require the federal $7.25 per hour rate, but lower than Washington, D.C., at $17.50.
Penalties for noncompliance under Florida law
If your business fails to comply with the minimum wage law in the Sunshine State, the penalties can be severe, including the following:
- You may be required to pay employees’ back wages, liquidated damages, and reasonable attorney fees and court costs for noncompliance.
- If your business is found to have intentionally violated the state’s minimum wage laws, you may be fined $1,000 for each violation.
- You may also face civil action from the state’s attorney general designed to enforce minimum wage laws.
The rules for working young people in Florida are as follows:
- Children under the age of 14 can’t work in nonagricultural jobs. Those ages 14 and 15 can work in jobs outside of school hours that are considered nonhazardous.
- Minors ages 16 and 17 can now work more than 8 hours on holidays and Sundays, even during the school year.
- Workers younger than 20 can be paid a youth minimum wage of $4.25 per hour for their first 90 days of employment.
Seasonal workers in Florida must be paid the state’s minimum wage of $14 per hour.
Legislative watch: Training wages debate
As Florida heads toward the $15 threshold, state lawmakers are actively debating how it will affect inexperienced workers. For example, during the 2026 legislative session, House Bill 221 proposed allowing employees to voluntarily opt out of the state minimum wage during internships, pre-apprenticeships, or on-the-job training.
While the bill ultimately died in committee in March 2026, it highlights an ongoing push by some lawmakers to create training wage exemptions that would allow employers to pay the lower federal minimum wage in exchange for teaching valuable career skills. While this specific bill stalled, employers should keep an eye out for similar workforce training exemptions in future sessions.
Employer strategies to stay ahead of minimum wage updates
While minimum wage updates in Florida are likely inevitable, some savvy strategies will help your business stay ahead of the pack. Here are some tips for staying ahead of potential minimum wage changes in Florida:
- First, it’s important to recognize that annual inflation adjustments will impact your overall payroll. With increasing salary costs, your business will see higher payroll expenses, which doesn’t account for potential performance-based raises. It’s smart to plan and budget for these increases before they take effect so they don’t make a surprise impact on your bottom line when they take place.
- Conduct regular wage audits to make sure you’re in compliance and that you’re paying a fair wage to all workers.
- You can turn to automated payroll software such as OnPay, which will help your business automatically apply Florida’s ongoing wage rules, track tipped wages, and update wage rates to reduce risk.
Simple with quick setup
“I researched several payroll apps, and OnPay was the best price for the features, easy to set up without a ton of training, and helpful when I started paying an employee who lives in another state. I’ve been very happy with my decision to use OnPay.”
— Ben Leitch, 35th + Butter
We also offer a Florida hourly paycheck calculator and a tax rate calculator to keep your business on track. And keep in mind that it’s always a good idea to stay informed of potential legislative changes that may impact your business in the months and years to come.
Managing Florida payroll with confidence
Florida’s gradual path to a $15 minimum wage, effective September 30, 2026 requires employers to stay on their toes. Between tracking the tipped minimum wage (currently $10.98, increasing to $11.98), navigating youth rates for new hires, and tracking future updates tied to inflation, staying compliant takes planning.
A dependable payroll process automates tracking hours, covering tip makeups, and rolling out scheduled wage updates. You can pay your team members in just a few clicks and let us handle the heavy lifting of calculations, deductions, and payroll taxes. If you’re ready to take those tasks off your plate so you can focus on growing your business, OnPay is here to help.
Take a tour to see how easy payroll can be.
Jon Davis is the Sr. Content Marketing Manager at OnPay. He has over 15 years of experience writing for small and growing businesses. Jon lives and works in Atlanta.