Florida Minimum Wage Increasing to $15 an Hour on September 30, 2026

For tipped workers like bartenders and restaurant servers, the minimum cash wage will increase to $11.98 per hour. Employers can count up to $3.02 per hour in tips toward Florida’s $15 minimum wage, meaning employees must still receive at least the full required minimum when their cash wages and eligible tips are combined.

Florida’s minimum wage has climbed by $1 each year since reaching $10 an hour in 2021. The September 2026 increase officially brings that voter-approved schedule to $15. Starting in 2027, Florida’s minimum wage is expected to move away from those automatic $1 increases and instead be adjusted annually based on inflation.

The increase could also have an impact beyond workers’ paychecks. Restaurants, bars and other Florida businesses with large hourly workforces will face higher labor costs, which could influence decisions involving staffing levels, menu prices, hours and automation. With $15 an hour becoming Florida’s new minimum wage on September 30, the change is likely to affect millions of conversations between workers, employers and customers across the state.