Florida's minimum wage is $15/hr as of September 30, 2026. The tipped cash wage is $11.98. If your next payroll run includes hours worked on or after that date, the new rates must apply. This is the last step in the annual schedule that started at $10 in 2021.
If your payroll system still shows $14/$10.98, fix it before you process hours.
| Wage type | Before | After |
|---|---|---|
| Base wage | $14.00 | $15.00 |
| Tipped cash wage | $10.98 | $11.98 |
The tip credit stays at $3.02
That number is a cap set by the state constitution at the 2003 federal level. Lawmakers can reduce the credit by statute, but it can't rise without a new amendment. You pay $11.98/hr in cash wages to tipped employees, and if their tips don't bring them to $15 in any given workweek, you owe the difference, per employee, per workweek. You can't average across workweeks or offset one employee's shortfall with another's excess tips. Check for shortfalls before each payroll run closes.
Check your tip pool too. If you take the credit, managers and non-tipped staff can't participate. One Florida restaurant chain paid $314,553 in back wages in a case where the DOL found it redirecting gratuities to the business. A Tampa brewery paid $70,575 in a case where managers were included in the pool.
No state agency, real federal enforcement
Florida has no state wage-and-hour division. Enforcement comes from the federal WHD, which runs seven field offices across the state, or from private civil action under F.S. 448.110 (employees must give 15 days' written notice before filing). Based on Duty Room's analysis of WHD enforcement data, extracted June 2026, the division has recovered $57.5 million from 6,916 Florida hospitality investigations. Where a case finds back wages, the typical recovery runs about $3,100. Overtime violations account for 58% of back wages recovered.
Update payroll to $15.00 base and $11.98 tipped for all Florida hours. If you operate across states, confirm the Florida rate applies only to Florida hours worked.
Replace your minimum wage poster in both English and Spanish, as F.S. 448.109 requires. Download the updated poster from the Florida Department of Commerce.
The annual cycle starts now
The $1 annual increases are done, but the rate isn't frozen. Under F.S. 448.110, the 12-month CPI measurement period ends each September 1. The state publishes the adjusted rate by October 15 and it takes effect the following January 1. The first CPI-adjusted rate takes effect January 1, 2028. Add an October calendar check. Our full briefing covers the CPI formula, enforcement data, and tip credit rules.
This alert is based on sources available at publication and is for general information only. It doesn't constitute legal advice. For advice on your specific situation, consult a qualified professional.
Produce the record when you're asked, not a week later.
Florida operators keep I-9 and E-Verify checks, SB 606 disclosures, and $15 minimum wage records current. Duty Room keeps the evidence and deadlines aligned with your HR adviser.