---
title: Florida's Minimum Wage Hits $15
description: The final $1 increase under Amendment 2 takes the base wage to $15 and
  the tipped cash wage to $11.98. What to update before your next payroll run.
source: Duty Room
source_url: https://dutyroom.com
published_on: '2026-09-30'
updated_on: '2026-09-30'
market: us
submarket: fl
sectors:
- all
canonical_url: https://dutyroom.com/us/fl/alerts/florida-15-minimum-wage-effective
---

# Florida's Minimum Wage Hits $15

The final $1 increase under Amendment 2 takes the base wage to $15 and the tipped cash wage to $11.98. What to update before your next payroll run.

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.

![Florida's base minimum wage rises from $14.00 to $15.00 per hour, and the tipped cash wage from $10.98 to $11.98, effective September 30, 2026.](https://dutyroom.com/figures/us/fl/wage-step-sept-2026.png)

| Wage type | Before | After |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Base wage | $14.00 | $15.00 |
| Tipped cash wage | $10.98 | $11.98 |

Florida minimum wage rates before and after September 30, 2026. The base wage rises from $14.00 to $15.00 per hour and the tipped cash wage from $10.98 to $11.98. Source: [Florida Constitution Art. X, Section 24](https://www.flsenate.gov/Laws/Constitution#A10S24).

## The tip credit stays at $3.02

That number is a cap set by the [state constitution](https://www.flsenate.gov/Laws/Constitution#A10S24) 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](https://www.dol.gov/newsroom/releases/whd/whd20200624-2) in a case where the DOL found it redirecting gratuities to the business. A Tampa brewery paid [$70,575](https://www.dol.gov/newsroom/releases/whd/whd20201208) 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](https://www.flsenate.gov/laws/statutes/2025/448.110) (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](https://www.flsenate.gov/laws/statutes/2025/448.109) requires. Download the updated poster from the [Florida Department of Commerce](https://www.floridajobs.org/business-growth-and-partnerships/for-employers/display-posters-and-required-notices).

## The annual cycle starts now

The $1 annual increases are done, but the rate isn't frozen. Under [F.S. 448.110](https://www.flsenate.gov/laws/statutes/2025/448.110), 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](https://dutyroom.com/us/fl/briefings/florida-15-minimum-wage) covers the CPI formula, enforcement data, and tip credit rules.

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Published by [Duty Room](https://dutyroom.com/us/fl/), software for organizing, tracking, and evidencing operational compliance.