As of October 2026, the Florida minimum wage is $15.00 an hour, effective 30 September 2026, and tipped employees must get a direct wage of at least $11.98 an hour plus tips. The $15.00 rate runs until 31 December 2027; after that the wage is adjusted each year for inflation, taking effect every 1 January.
Florida has just reached the end of a six-year climb. If you employ people in the state, the rate you pay changed on 30 September, and the way it changes in future is about to switch too. Here's what the Florida Department of Commerce says.
Florida minimum wage at a glance
| Rate | Amount (as of October 2026) | Period |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage | $15.00 an hour | 30 September 2026 to 31 December 2027 |
| Tipped employees, direct wage | $11.98 an hour plus tips | From 30 September 2026 |
| Tip credit used to work out the direct wage | $3.02 | Fixed at the 2003 FLSA amount |
| Previous minimum wage | $14.00 an hour | From 30 September 2025 |
Why it's $15 now
On 3 November 2020, Florida voters approved a constitutional amendment to raise the minimum wage each year until it reached $15.00 in September 2026. That's the increase that took effect on 30 September. It's written into Section 24, Article X of the State Constitution, so it isn't a figure the legislature can quietly change from year to year.
What changes after 2027
This is the detail most Florida employers haven't clocked yet. The $15.00 rate holds for longer than a year: from 30 September 2026 to 31 December 2027. The state says that, resuming in September 2027, the minimum wage will be adjusted annually for inflation and the new rate will take effect on the following 1 January.
So the old rhythm of a 30 September pay rise ends. From 2028 your payroll calendar moves to January, which is when most other states with indexed wages change too. If you budget on a September cycle, change the date in your diary now.
Who has to be paid it
The state's announcement says employers must pay their employees the hourly state minimum wage for all hours worked in Florida, and that the definitions of employer, employee and wage are the same as under the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and its regulations. That has two practical effects. First, it's about hours worked in Florida, so someone based in another state who spends a week working in your Miami office is owed the Florida rate for those hours. Second, if a worker counts as an employee for FLSA purposes, they count for Florida's wage too, so calling someone a contractor doesn't change the answer if the federal test says otherwise. Federal law still sets its own lower rate, but where both apply, the higher Florida rate is what you pay.
How the tipped wage works
Florida lets employers of tipped staff take a tip credit, but only up to the allowable federal tip credit of 2003, which is $3.02. The employer must still pay a direct wage, worked out as the minimum wage minus that credit:
| Part of the calculation | Amount (as of October 2026) |
|---|---|
| Florida minimum wage | $15.00 |
| Less 2003 FLSA tip credit | $3.02 |
| Direct hourly wage you must pay | $11.98 |
The tip credit only applies to employees who meet the FLSA eligibility rules for tipped work, and the state uses the federal Fair Labor Standards Act definitions of employer, employee and wage. If a tipped worker's tips don't bring them up to $15.00 an hour, the tip credit doesn't cover the gap.
The 15-day rule and the fine
Here's the insight that surprises people. Under the Florida notice, an employee who hasn't been paid the minimum wage must first notify the employer and give the employer 15 days to resolve the claim. After that, they can bring a civil action to recover back wages plus damages and attorney's fees.
Those 15 days are your window to fix a payroll error before it becomes a lawsuit, so treat any wage complaint as urgent. The state can act too: as of October 2026, an employer found liable for intentionally violating the minimum wage is subject to a fine of $1,000 per violation, payable to the state, and the Attorney General can bring a civil action to enforce the wage.
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Posters and paperwork
- Download the 2026 to 2027 Florida minimum wage poster from FloridaJobs.org. It's available in English, Spanish and Creole.
- Display it in a conspicuous place in each establishment where your employees work, as section 448.109 of the Florida Statutes requires.
- Display the federal FLSA minimum wage poster as well; federal law requires it separately.
- Update tipped employees' direct wage to at least $11.98 and check that tips bring every worker to $15.00.
- Note January 2028 as the next likely change date, once the September 2027 inflation adjustment is announced.
Rota planning gets harder when pay goes up, so this is a good time to look at employee scheduling software alongside payroll software that updates rates for you.
My verdict
Florida's minimum wage is now $15.00, and it stays there until the end of 2027. The two things I'd act on are the switch to January increases from 2028 and the 15-day notice window, which gives you a real chance to put a mistake right. Pay the $11.98 direct wage to tipped staff, top up anyone whose tips fall short, and keep the new poster on the wall.
Frequently asked questions
What is Florida's minimum wage in 2026?
As of October 2026, it's $15.00 an hour, effective 30 September 2026.
What is the tipped minimum wage in Florida?
Tipped employees must get a direct wage of at least $11.98 an hour plus tips, which is $15.00 minus the 2003 federal tip credit of $3.02.
When will Florida's minimum wage go up again?
The $15.00 rate runs to 31 December 2027. From September 2027 the wage is adjusted each year for inflation, with the new rate taking effect on the following 1 January.
What was Florida's minimum wage before $15?
It was $14.00 an hour from 30 September 2025.
What happens if a Florida employer doesn't pay minimum wage?
After notifying the employer and allowing 15 days to resolve it, an employee can sue for back wages, damages and attorney's fees. Intentional violations can bring a fine of $1,000 per violation, as of October 2026.
Do Florida employers need a minimum wage poster?
Yes. Section 448.109 of the Florida Statutes requires the state minimum wage notice to be displayed where employees work, alongside the federal FLSA poster.
