The minimum wage in the USA is determined at three levels: federal, state, and local. The federal minimum wage applies across all states in the USA. For jobs covered by federal labor laws, the hourly wage cannot fall below this level. Individual states can establish their own minimum wages, provided they are higher than the federal minimum wage. A different minimum wage may also apply in certain cities or counties.
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Federal Minimum Wage in the USA in 2025
In addition to this, there are two specific levels of minimum wage: one for positions where tips are part of the compensation, and another for other employees.
Taxi drivers, waiters, bartenders, and casino dealers earn a lower minimum wage than employees who do not make at least $30 per month in tips. Cooks, maintenance workers, and kitchen staff have a higher set rate. The difference between tipped and non-tipped minimum wages can be up to fourfold.
🔴 Minimum Wage in the USA 2025
Since July 24, 2009, the federal minimum hourly wage has been $7.25.
🔵 Minimum Wage for Tipped Employees
The current minimum wage for tipped employees is $2.13 per hour. If the sum of the minimum wage and tips does not reach $7.25, the employer must cover the difference.
⚪ Wage for Youth Under 20
A fixed minimum hourly wage of $4.25 applies during the first 90 calendar days of employment for individuals under the age of 20.
🟢 Indexed Minimum Wage
In some states, the minimum wage is tied to the inflation level or the cost-of-living index. As a result, adjustments to the minimum wage are made regularly. States with indexed minimum wages are marked with ✔️, while those without are marked with ❌.
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State Minimum Wage in the USA in 2025
Individual states can set their own minimum wages. The highest minimum wages in the USA are in Washington, D.C., Washington State, and California. The lowest minimum wages are in Georgia and Wyoming. In states like Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, and Tennessee, no minimum wage is set.
The data in the table below are valid as of January 1, 2025, and represent hourly rates. The source of this information is the U.S. Department of Labor.
State 🔴 Minimum Wage 🔵 Tipped Employees 🟢 Indexed Minimum Wage Alabama — — ❌ Alaska $11.73 $11.73 ✔️ Arizona $14.35 $11.35 ✔️ Arkansas $11.00 $2.63 ❌ California 1, 2) $16.00 $16.00 ✔️ Colorado $14.42 $11.40 ✔️ Connecticut $15.69 $6.38 ✔️ Delaware $15.00 $2.23 ❌ Florida $13.00 $9.98 ✔️ Georgia 3) $5.15 $2.13 ❌ Hawaii $14.00 $12.75 ❌ Idaho $7.25 $3.35 ❌ Illinois 4) $15.00 $8.40 ❌ Indiana $7.25 $2.13 ❌ Iowa 5) $7.25 $4.35 ❌ Kansas $7.25 $2.13 ❌ Kentucky $7.25 $2.13 ❌ Louisiana — — ❌ Maine $14.15 6) $7.08 ✔️ Maryland $15.00 $3.63 ❌ Massachusetts $15.00 $6.75 ❌ Michigan $10.56 $4.01 ✔️ Minnesota $10.85 7) $10.85 ✔️ Mississippi — — ❌ Missouri $12.30 $6.15 ✔️ Montana $10.30 $10.30 ✔️ Nebraska $12.00 $2.13 ❌ Nevada $12.00 $12.00 ✔️ New Hampshire $7.25 $3.27 ❌ New Jersey 8) $15.13 $5.26 ✔️ New Mexico $12.00 $3.00 ❌ New York $15.00 — 12) ❌ North Carolina $7.25 $2.13 ❌ North Dakota $7.25 $4.86 ❌ Ohio $10.45 $5.25 ✔️ Oklahoma $7.25 $2.13 ❌ Oregon 9) $14.70 $14.70 ✔️ Pennsylvania $7.25 $2.83 ❌ Rhode Island $14.00 $3.89 ❌ South Carolina — — ❌ South Dakota $11.20 $5.60 ✔️ Tennessee — — ❌ Texas $7.25 10) $2.13 ❌ Utah $7.25 $2.13 ❌ Vermont $13.67 $6.84 ✔️ Virginia $13.50 $2.13 ✔️ Washington $16.28 $16.28 ✔️ Washington, D.C. $17.50 $10.00 ✔️ West Virginia 11) $8.75 $2.62 ❌ Wisconsin $7.25 $2.33 ❌ Wyoming $5.15 $2.13 ❌ 1) Individual cities in California can set their own minimum wages, for example, Los Angeles has $17.28, San Francisco has $18.67, and Berkeley has $18.67.
2) As of April 1, 2024, the minimum wage will be $20.00 in fast-food restaurants without table service and with at least 60 locations across the USA.
3) The minimum wage applies only to employers with six or more employees.
4) In Chicago, the minimum wage is $16.20. For tipped employees, the minimum wage is set at 60% of this amount.
5) Minimum wage regulations do not apply to most businesses with annual revenues under $300,000.
6) In Portland, the minimum wage is $15.00.
7) In Minneapolis and St. Paul, the minimum wage is $15.57.
8) The minimum wage for seasonal workers is set at $14.30 in 2025, while agricultural workers have a minimum wage of $13.40.
9) A rate of $13.70 applies in rural areas, while outside rural areas, the rate is $14.70, and in the metropolitan Portland area, it is $15.95. The rate for tipped employees remains the same.
10) In Dallas County, the minimum wage is set at $15.00.
11) The minimum wage applies only in establishments with six or more employees.
12) The minimum wage varies by location and type of business. For example, fast-food employees in New York City have a minimum wage of $16.00. -
Minimum Wage for Youth and Trainee Employees
In some states, there is a separate minimum wage for minors and for employees in training:
- Illinois – $10.50
- Michigan – trainees $4.25, minors $8.78
- Minnesota – $8.85
- New Jersey – $9.90
- Ohio – for minors under 16 years old $7.25
- Washington – $13.84
Discussion (2)
Hi, I’d like to know how it is in the US with tips. I have read that it is not compulsory, but everyone gives it and it is therefore expected – it is supposedly the main income of some employees. I wonder who to pay and how much is given that way. Thank you :)
Hi Jeromie, check out the article on tipping in the US, it tells you everything.