2026 Minimum Wage by State: Tipped and Hourly Pay Rates

Your minimum wage depends on where you work. If you earn tips, it also depends on how your employer counts them.

Click your state on the interactive map below to see the 2026 minimum wage, the minimum cash wage for tipped employees, the maximum tip credit, and the overtime rate you should earn for every hour over 40 in a workweek. Then compare those numbers to your pay stub.

If your pay is lower than your state’s rate, you may be owed back pay, and this guide explains how to tell.

State-by-State Minimum Wage and Tipped Pay Rates

Select any state on the map to see its standard minimum wage, its minimum cash wage for tipped employees, the maximum tip credit an employer may claim, and the minimum overtime rate for both hourly and tipped workers. Rates reflect figures in effect as of October 16, 2026. Some cities and counties set higher local minimums, so confirm your rate with your state labor department.

If your hourly cash wage falls below the figure for your state, you may be underpaid. You can fill out our contact form for a free case review, and an employment lawyer will look at your pay records with you.

As of 2026, 30 states and the District of Columbia set minimums above the federal rate, and many also require a higher cash wage for tipped workers. When federal and state laws differ, your employer must pay whichever rate is higher. The same rule applies to overtime: every hour over 40 in a workweek must be paid at 1.5 times the higher minimum.

The most common violations we see:

• Calculating overtime on the tipped cash wage instead of the full minimum wage
• Failing to give workers a tip credit notice
• Paying overtime only after 80 hours in a two-week pay period, instead of after 40 hours in each workweek
• Miscalculating tip pool shares, or including managers in the pool

Understanding the Maximum Tip Credit by State

A tip credit is the portion of the minimum wage your employer may cover with your tips instead of its own money. The maximum tip credit is the full minimum wage minus the tipped cash wage. Under federal law, that is $7.25 minus $2.13, or $5.12 per hour. Your state’s maximum tip credit is shown in the map above.

The credit is a privilege, not an automatic right. To claim it under federal rules, your employer must:

• Tell you in advance that it is taking a tip credit
• Tell you the cash wage it will pay and the amount of the credit
• Let you keep all of your tips, except through a valid tip pool that excludes managers and supervisors
• Make up the difference in any workweek where your tips plus cash wage fall short of the full minimum

The tip credit does not grow with overtime. Your overtime rate is 1.5 times the full minimum wage, minus the same tip credit. At federal rates, that is $10.88 minus $5.12, or $5.76 per hour in cash. An employer who pays 1.5 times $2.13 ($3.20) shorts you $2.56 for every overtime hour. At 10 overtime hours a week, that adds up to more than $2,600 over two years, before damages.

Employers who skip the notice, take a cut of your tips, or let managers into the tip pool can lose the credit entirely. That can mean back pay for the full tip credit on every hour you worked, plus an equal amount in liquidated damages under the FLSA.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can my employer pay me $2.13 per hour in a state with a higher tipped minimum?

No. Your employer must pay the higher of the federal or state rate.

What happens if my tips don’t bring me up to the full minimum wage?

Your employer must make up the difference for that workweek.

Can my manager take part in the tip pool?

No. Federal law bars managers and supervisors from keeping any portion of employee tips, even if they occasionally serve tables.

How far back can I recover unpaid wages?

Under the FLSA, you can generally recover two years of back pay, or three years if the violation was willful.

Can I be fired for asking about my pay?

Retaliation for raising wage complaints is illegal under federal law and most state laws. If your employer cut your hours or fired you after you asked about pay, you may have an additional claim.

Does overtime apply to tipped workers?

Yes. Overtime is calculated on the full minimum wage, not your cash wage.