The minimum wage in Massachusetts is $15.00 an hour as of October 2026, and it's been at that level since 1 January 2023. Tipped service employees can be paid $6.75 an hour, as long as tips bring them up to at least $15.00 and the employer has told them about the rule in writing.
I've checked this against Mass.gov's Minimum Wage Program and minimum wage and overtime pages, plus the U.S. Department of Labor's state tables, in October 2026. Massachusetts looks simple at the headline, but it has two quirks I see employers miss: a written notice requirement before you can use the tipped rate, and restaurant staff who are exempt from state overtime but not from federal overtime.
Massachusetts wage rates
| Worker | Hourly rate (as of October 2026) |
|---|---|
| Most employees | $15.00 |
| Tipped service employees, cash wage | $6.75 |
| Maximum tip credit | $8.25 |
| Tips needed to count as tipped | More than $20 a month |
The U.S. Department of Labor also notes a floor built into the Massachusetts law: in no case can the state rate be less than $0.50 higher than the federal minimum. So a future federal rise would pull Massachusetts up with it, even without a state vote.
Using the $6.75 service rate
Mass.gov says that to pay tipped employees the service rate, the employer must notify the employee in writing of the tipped wage provision in the state's minimum wage law, M.G.L. c. 151, section 7. Tipped restaurant employees must also reach at least minimum wage for all hours worked when tips and wages are combined each day, not averaged across a week.
- Give each tipped employee written notice of the service rate rule before paying $6.75.
- Check that the employee regularly gets more than $20 a month in tips.
- Add up wages plus tips for each day, not just each week.
- Top up any shift where the total falls short of $15.00 an hour.
- Pay service employees all their tips, or use a tip pool that shares tips in proportion to time worked.
The daily check is the Massachusetts difference. A slow Monday can't be balanced against a busy Saturday. If you run a tip pool, my tip pooling guide covers the federal side.
The restaurant overtime trap
Mass.gov points out that restaurant employees are exempt from overtime under the state law, but not under federal law. In practice, a restaurant covered by the federal Fair Labor Standards Act still owes time and a half after 40 hours a week. Don't read the state exemption as permission to skip overtime. My overtime laws guide walks through who's exempt federally.
Who counts as wait staff for tips
A 2020 law, Chapter 358 of the Acts of 2020, widened the state's definition of a wait staff employee. Mass.gov says it now includes waiters, bus staff and people in quick service restaurants who prepare or serve food or drinks as part of a counter team, as long as they serve patrons directly or clear tables, work where prepared food or drinks are served, and meet the law's test on managerial responsibility. Mass.gov calls the change to that management prong the notable expansion. For coffee shops and counter-service chains, that's the line that decides who can share in a tip pool.
Sundays and holidays
Mass.gov says that under the minimum fair wage law an employer doesn't have to pay extra for weekend, holiday or night work. The 2018 law known as the Grand Bargain made changes to the minimum wage, Sunday premium pay and holiday pay, and a 2020 law changed certain holiday work practices again. Holiday rules for retail on certain legal holidays sit in the state's blue laws, which Mass.gov covers on a separate page, so check those if you open on New Year's Day, Columbus Day or Veterans Day.
How Massachusetts reached $15
| Year (1 January) | Massachusetts rate |
|---|---|
| 2020 | $12.75 |
| 2021 | $13.50 |
| 2022 | $14.25 |
| 2023 | $15.00 |
| 2024 | $15.00 |
| As of October 2026 | $15.00 |
The rises came from the Grand Bargain schedule, which ended at $15.00 in 2023. Massachusetts doesn't index its rate to inflation, so it's held at $15.00 since then while Connecticut and Rhode Island kept climbing.
New England comparison
| State | Minimum wage (as of October 2026) | Tipped cash wage |
|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts | $15.00 | $6.75 |
| Connecticut | $16.94 | Set by job type |
| Rhode Island | $16.00 | $3.89 |
| Vermont | $14.42 | $7.21 |
| New Hampshire | $7.25 | $3.27 |
| New York | $16.00 upstate, $17.00 in NYC, Long Island and Westchester | Varies by region and employer |
Massachusetts now sits behind Connecticut and Rhode Island, and well above New Hampshire, which still pays the federal floor. If you run a business near the New Hampshire line, each person is paid the rate where they work, so two staff doing the same job can be on very different rates. My New York minimum wage guide covers the regional rates there.
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Where to get help
The state's Minimum Wage Program runs a hotline on (617) 626-6951. Through Mass.gov you can also apply for a minimum wage waiver, file a complaint, read the state's minimum wage opinion letters and find holiday permits. The rules themselves are the minimum fair wage law, M.G.L. c. 151, and the regulations at 454 CMR 27.00.
My verdict
Massachusetts is a $15.00 state with a $6.75 tipped rate, and the two things that catch employers out are the written notice and the daily tips check. If you run a restaurant, pay overtime after 40 hours regardless of the state exemption, because the federal law still applies. Put those three habits in place and you're covered.
Frequently asked questions
What is the minimum wage in Massachusetts?
It's $15.00 an hour as of October 2026, unchanged since 1 January 2023.
What is the tipped minimum wage in Massachusetts?
Tipped service employees can be paid $6.75 an hour if tips bring them to at least $15.00 and they've had written notice of the rule.
Is the Massachusetts minimum wage going up?
The official pages checked in October 2026 show no scheduled increase. The state rate isn't indexed to inflation.
Do Massachusetts restaurants have to pay overtime?
Restaurant staff are exempt under state law but not federal law, so covered restaurants still owe overtime after 40 hours a week.
Does Massachusetts require Sunday premium pay?
The minimum wage law doesn't require extra pay for weekend, holiday or night work. Retail holiday rules sit in the blue laws.
How much in tips makes someone a tipped employee in Massachusetts?
More than $20 a month in tips, according to the U.S. Department of Labor's tipped wage table.
