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.

Learn More
Hero image
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

See All States

October 4, 2024

Newsom’s Economics of Convenience Continues

This week, the California Business and Industrial Alliance (CABIA) released its second ad in USA Today calling out Governor Newsom for his revisionist history on the success of California’s…
September 27, 2024

Even More Data Shows Harm of CA $20 Wage is Undeniable

California Governor Gavin Newsom’s spin room has been awfully quiet since new state jobs data dropped over the weekend. Last week, the governor published an op-ed claiming California’s fast…
September 20, 2024

Tipped Worker Teaches House Committee the Truths About Tipping

Last week, The Harris-Walz campaign officially added tip credit elimination to its platform last week, after weeks of pressure from activist organizations like One Fair Wage, which claim…
September 13, 2024

New Study: Eliminating Tip Credits Will Increase Wage Gaps For Minorities

A new study conducted by University of California-Irvine economists Dr. David Neumark and Emma Wohl examines how increasing the tipped minimum wage affects earnings gaps for restaurant workers. While anti-tip…