What is the minimum wage?

The minimum wage is the starting hourly wage an employer can pay an employee for work. Currently, the federal minimum wage is $7.25 an hour (part of the Fair Labor Standards Act). Some states and cities have raised their minimum wage higher than that. In most instances, the higher of the prevailing minimum wage requirements is binding for employers.

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Minimum Wage in the U.S.

Select your state to learn more about the standard minimum wage and the tipped wage in your state.

Fed. Min. Wage Fed. Tipped Wage
$7.25 $2.13

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New York December 1, 2023

New York Should Save What’s Left of Its Tip Credit

In recent years, New York’s decision to slash its tip credit and increase its tipped minimum wage requirement has wreaked havoc on the restaurant industry. Data already shows that even…
November 17, 2023

The Year is Almost Over, But Minimum Wage Proposals Are Still Alive and Well

After a flurry of proposals on minimum wage hikes and tip credit elimination at the local, state, and federal levels this year, union activists aren’t done yet. Campaigns led by…
November 10, 2023

The (Not So) Happy Anniversary of Initiative 82 in DC

November 8 marked the one-year anniversary of District of Columbia voters passing Initiative 82, a ballot measure to eliminate the city’s tip credit. Ever since its passage, the…
November 3, 2023

One Fair Wage Grants Barely Cover One Employee’s Wages for Three Months

One Fair Wage, the union-funded group pushing states and cities around the country to eliminate their tip credits, often touts to lawmakers and media that switching to a flat…