The minimum wage in Virginia is $12.77 an hour as of October 2026. A law signed in April 2026 raises it to $13.75 on 1 January 2027 and $15.00 on 1 January 2028, after which it's adjusted each year for inflation.
I've built this from the Code of Virginia section 40.1-28.10, the Governor's April 2026 announcement and the Virginia Department of Labor and Industry, all checked in October 2026. A lot of pages still describe Virginia's old inflation formula for 2027. That's out of date: the new law fixes the next two rises in dollars.
Virginia's minimum wage schedule
| Period | Minimum wage |
|---|---|
| 2025 | $12.41 |
| 1 January 2026 to 31 December 2026 | $12.77 |
| 1 January 2027 to 31 December 2027 | $13.75 |
| 1 January 2028 to 31 December 2028 | $15.00 |
| From 1 January 2029 | Adjusted every year for inflation |
In each period the law says employers must pay the greater of the Virginia rate or the federal minimum wage. Since the federal rate is $7.25 as of October 2026, the Virginia figure is the one that counts.
What changed in 2026
Governor Abigail Spanberger signed SB1 and HB1 in April 2026. Those bills did two things: they wrote the $12.77 rate that started on 1 January 2026 into law, and they set the steps to $13.75 in 2027 and $15.00 in 2028. The Governor's office describes it as raising the state minimum wage to $15 an hour incrementally.
Before that, the rate rose by formula. The Department of Labor and Industry worked out the 2026 rate by adding the inflation rise in the U.S. Consumer Price Index to the 2025 rate of $12.41, which is how it landed on $12.77.
How the inflation formula returns in 2029
From 1 January 2029 the rate goes back to an annual adjustment. Under the Code, by 1 October 2028 and every year after, the Commissioner of Labor and Industry sets the next year's rate by adding the percentage rise in the Consumer Price Index for all urban consumers to the rate in effect at the time. So employers will get roughly three months' notice of each new rate.
Training wage for new employees
The law has a training rate that's easy to overlook. An employee enrolled in an established on-the-job or other training program lasting no more than 90 days can be paid the greater of the federal minimum wage or three quarters of the Virginia minimum wage. The program has to meet standards set by regulations adopted by the Commissioner, so this isn't a free pass to pay every new starter less.
Tipped employees in Virginia
The U.S. Department of Labor lists Virginia's minimum cash wage for tipped employees at $2.13 an hour, with a maximum tip credit of $10.64. Virginia's own guidance puts it the same way: an employer may pay a tipped employee no less than $2.13 an hour, but their total earnings from wages and tips must meet Virginia's minimum wage. A tipped employee in Virginia is someone who gets more than $30 a month in tips.
- Pay at least $2.13 an hour in cash wages.
- Total the employee's tips for the pay period.
- Check that cash wages plus tips reach at least $12.77 for every hour worked.
- Top up any shortfall in the same pay period.
- Plan for the cash-plus-tips floor rising to $13.75 in January 2027.
How Virginia got here
| Year | Virginia minimum wage |
|---|---|
| 2014 to 2019 | $7.25 |
| 2021 | $9.50 |
| 2022 | $11.00 |
| 2023 and 2024 | $12.00 |
| 2025 | $12.41 |
| 2026 | $12.77 |
For years Virginia simply followed the federal rate. The first state rise took it to $9.50 on 1 May 2021, and it's climbed every year since.
How Virginia compares with its neighbours
| State | Basic minimum wage (as of October 2026) |
|---|---|
| Virginia | $12.77, rising to $13.75 in 2027 |
| Maryland | $15.00 |
| West Virginia | $8.75 for employers with 6 or more employees at one location |
| Tennessee | No state minimum wage law, so the federal $7.25 applies |
| Federal | $7.25 |
If you hire across state lines, the rate follows the place the employee works. A business in Northern Virginia with staff in Maryland is already paying $15.00 there, two years before Virginia catches up.
Who it covers
The Department of Labor and Industry says the minimum wage applies to most employees in Virginia, including full-time, part-time and temporary workers, with some exemptions for seasonal and job-specific categories. If you're not sure where a role falls, check it before you pay it. For overtime and federal rules, see my overtime laws guide and my federal minimum wage guide.
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My verdict
Virginia now has the clearest runway of any state I've looked at this year: $12.77 today, $13.75 in 2027, $15.00 in 2028, all in the Code. If you employ people in Virginia, budget for both steps now rather than waiting for a reminder letter. And if you're relying on the training rate, make sure your program meets the Commissioner's standards first, because that's where employers get caught.
Frequently asked questions
What is the minimum wage in Virginia in 2026?
It's $12.77 an hour from 1 January 2026.
What will Virginia's minimum wage be in 2027?
It rises to $13.75 an hour on 1 January 2027 under SB1 and HB1, signed in April 2026.
When does Virginia reach $15 an hour?
On 1 January 2028. From 1 January 2029 the rate is adjusted every year for inflation.
Does Virginia's minimum wage apply to part-time workers?
Yes. The Department of Labor and Industry says it applies to most employees, including full-time, part-time and temporary workers, with some exemptions for seasonal and job-specific categories.
Does the federal minimum wage ever override Virginia's?
Only if it's higher. The Code says employers pay the greater of the Virginia rate or the federal minimum wage.
What is the tipped minimum wage in Virginia?
Employers can pay a cash wage of $2.13 an hour, but wages plus tips must reach the Virginia minimum wage.
Who sets Virginia's minimum wage after 2028?
The Commissioner of Labor and Industry sets each new rate by 1 October, using the rise in the Consumer Price Index, starting with the 2029 rate.
Is there a training wage in Virginia?
Yes. An employee in an approved training program of up to 90 days can be paid the greater of the federal minimum wage or three quarters of the Virginia rate.
