Florida’s Minimum Wage Hits $15 on September 30 — Here’s What Changes

Mark your calendar: on Tuesday, September 30, 2026, Florida’s minimum wage rises to $15.00 an hour — and the cash wage for tipped employees rises to $11.98 an hour. This is the final scheduled step under Amendment 2, the 2020 ballot measure that phased Florida’s minimum wage up to $15 over six years.

For employers, this isn’t a one-line payroll update. Get the tip credit math wrong for even one employee and you’re looking at back wages, liquidated damages, and civil penalties of up to $1,000 per violation under Florida law.

The New Rates

• Standard minimum wage: $14.00/hr to $15.00/hr
• Tipped employee cash wage: $10.98/hr to $11.98/hr
• Maximum tip credit: $3.02/hr (unchanged)

Florida’s tip credit stays fixed at $3.02 an hour, so the increase flows straight through to tipped staff. As of September 30, employers may pay a direct cash wage as low as $11.98 an hour, provided the employee’s tips bring total earnings to at least $15.00 an hour for every hour worked. If tips fall short in any workweek, the employer must make up the difference.

Action Items Before September 30

• Payroll: Update payroll and time-and-attendance systems for hours worked on or after September 30, 2026.
• Posting: Swap in the updated Florida minimum wage notice where employees can easily see it.
• Tip credit check: Re-run the math for every tipped position to confirm cash wage plus tips reaches $15.00/hour in practice.
• Communication: Brief managers and anyone who sets schedules or approves payroll on the new rates.
• Records: Keep accurate time and pay records, the first documents a Wage and Hour Division investigator will request.

A 15-minute payroll review now can save thousands later.

The Bottom Line

September 30, 2026 completes Florida’s phased path to $15.00 an hour under Amendment 2. Going forward, the state’s minimum wage is scheduled to adjust annually for inflation, so expect smaller, regular changes each year rather than a jump like this one.

If you employ tipped staff, this is your reminder: September 30 is the moment to double-check your tip credit compliance.

Related Reading

• How to Calculate Overtime for Tipped Employees: Avoid Common Tip Credit Mistakes
• What Restaurant Owners Need to Know About FLSA Section 207(i) and Service Charges
• Common FLSA Violations in Restaurants

Related resource: Learn more about Florida Wage & Hour Compliance Consulting.