Tipped minimum wage by state (2026): cash wage, tip credit and combined minimum
U.S. Department of Labor figures for every state and D.C., for bars and restaurants that pay tipped staff. Federal baseline: cash wage $2.13, maximum tip credit $5.12, combined minimum $7.25. Where a state requires the full minimum wage before tips, only the cash wage is listed. Where a state changed its rate after the DOL revision date and we confirmed it on the state's own page, the row shows the state figure and a dated "State update" with the source.
Check local rules. This table does not show city or county minimums, and state changes after the DOL revision date appear only where marked "State update". Not legal, tax or payroll advice; confirm with your state labor agency.
| State | Min. cash wage | Combined cash + tip minimum | Max. tip credit | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $2.13 | $7.25 | $5.12 | No state minimum wage law; federal minimum applies to FLSA-covered employees. |
| Alaska | $14.00 | - | - | Employer must pay full state minimum wage before tips. |
| Arizona | $12.15 | $15.15 | $3.00 | |
| Arkansas | $2.63 | $11.00 | $8.37 | |
| California | $16.90 | - | - | Employer must pay full state minimum wage before tips. Some cities set higher minimums. |
| Colorado | $12.14 | $15.16 | $3.02 | |
| Connecticut | $6.38 (hotel, restaurant); $8.23 (bartenders who customarily receive tips) | $16.94 | $10.56 (hotel, restaurant); $8.71 (bartenders) | |
| Delaware | $2.23 | $15.00 | $12.77 | |
| District of Columbia | $10.30 | $18.40 | $8.10 | |
| Florida | $11.98 | $15.00 | $3.02 | DOL's table (revised July 1, 2026) still shows $14.00 combined and $10.98 cash; the state rate changed on Sept 30, 2026 (see state update). State update: FloridaCommerce says Florida's minimum wage became $15.00 per hour on September 30, 2026, effective through December 31, 2027. With the $3.02 maximum tip credit in the DOL table, the minimum cash wage for tipped employees is $11.98. FloridaCommerce: Florida Minimum Wage, checked 2026-10-17. |
| Georgia | $2.13 | $7.25 | $5.12 | Georgia has a state minimum wage law, but it does not apply to tipped employees. |
| Hawaii | $14.75 | $16.00 | $1.25 | Tip credit allowed only if wages plus tips are at least $7.00 above the minimum wage. |
| Idaho | $3.35 | $7.25 | $3.90 | |
| Illinois | $9.00 | $15.00 | 40% of minimum wage ($6.00) | |
| Indiana | $2.13 | $7.25 | $5.12 | |
| Iowa | $4.35 | $7.25 | 40% of minimum wage ($2.90) | |
| Kansas | $2.13 | $7.25 | $5.12 | State minimum wage law excludes employment covered by the federal FLSA. |
| Kentucky | $2.13 | $7.25 | $5.12 | |
| Louisiana | $2.13 | $7.25 | $5.12 | No state minimum wage law; federal minimum applies to FLSA-covered employees. |
| Maine | $7.55 | $15.10 | 50% of minimum wage ($7.55) | |
| Maryland | $3.63 | $15.00 | $11.37 | |
| Massachusetts | $6.75 | $15.00 | $8.25 | |
| Michigan | $5.49 | $13.73 | $8.24 | DOL notes Michigan's tipped cash wage rises annually toward 50% of minimum wage in 2031, and the minimum wage is scheduled to rise to $15.00 on Jan 1, 2027. |
| Minnesota | $11.41 | - | - | Employer must pay full state minimum wage before tips. |
| Mississippi | $2.13 | $7.25 | $5.12 | No state minimum wage law; federal minimum applies to FLSA-covered employees. |
| Missouri | $7.50 | $15.00 | 50% of minimum wage ($7.50) | |
| Montana | $10.85 (businesses with gross annual sales over $110,000); $4.00 (non-FLSA-covered businesses with sales of $110,000 or less) | - | - | Employer must pay full state minimum wage before tips (per DOL table). |
| Nebraska | $2.13 | $15.00 | $12.87 | |
| Nevada | $12.00 | - | - | Employer must pay full state minimum wage before tips. |
| New Hampshire | $3.27 | $7.25 | $3.98 | |
| New Jersey | $6.05 | $15.92 | $9.87 | DOL lists a $15.23 minimum wage for employers with fewer than 6 employees and for seasonal employees. Tip credit requires advance notice to employees. |
| New Mexico | $3.00 | $12.00 | $9.00 | |
| New York | Varies by region and employer type | $17.00 (NYC, Long Island, Westchester); $16.00 (rest of state) | - | Tipped minimum wage rates vary by region and type of employer. DOL refers to the state's own minimum wage overview. |
| North Carolina | $2.13 | $7.25 | $5.12 | Tip credit requires a signed tip certification and advance notice to employees. |
| North Dakota | $4.86 | $7.25 | 33% of minimum wage ($2.39) | |
| Ohio | $5.50 | $11.00 | $5.50 | Applies to employers with annual gross receipts of $405,000 or more; smaller employers use $7.25. |
| Oklahoma | $2.13 | $7.25 | $5.12 | DOL footnote: different rules apply to small employers (fewer than 10 full-time employees and $100,000 or less in sales). |
| Oregon | $15.55 (standard statewide); $16.80 (Portland metro); $14.55 (nonurban counties) | - | - | Employer must pay full state minimum wage before tips. Minimum wage varies by region. |
| Pennsylvania | $2.83 | $7.25 | $4.42 | |
| Rhode Island | $3.89 | $16.00 | $12.11 | |
| South Carolina | $2.13 | $7.25 | $5.12 | No state minimum wage law; federal minimum applies to FLSA-covered employees. |
| South Dakota | $5.93 | $11.85 | 50% of minimum wage ($5.92) | |
| Tennessee | $2.13 | $7.25 | $5.12 | No state minimum wage law; federal minimum applies to FLSA-covered employees. |
| Texas | $2.13 | $7.25 | $5.12 | State minimum wage law excludes employment covered by the federal FLSA. |
| Utah | $2.13 | $7.25 | $5.12 | State minimum wage law excludes employment covered by the federal FLSA. |
| Vermont | $7.21 | $14.42 | 50% of minimum wage ($7.21) | |
| Virginia | $2.13 | $12.77 | $10.64 | |
| Washington | $17.13 | - | - | Employer must pay full state minimum wage before tips. |
| West Virginia | $2.62 | $8.75 | 70% of minimum wage ($6.13) | State minimum wage law applies only to employers with six or more employees. |
| Wisconsin | $2.33 | $7.25 | $4.92 | |
| Wyoming | $2.13 | $7.25 | $5.12 | DOL notes the Wyoming minimum wage is $5.15; employers covered by the FLSA must pay at least the federal minimum. |
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Minimum Wages for Tipped Employees, document revised 2026-07-01, transcribed and checked 2026-10-17. "-" means the DOL table gives no figure for that column.