Florida's Minimum Wage Is Now $15 an Hour: What Workers and Tipped Employees Should Check on Their Next Paycheck

The last scheduled raise under a 2020 ballot measure just kicked in. Here is what changed and what comes next.

Florida's minimum wage rose to $15 an hour on Wednesday, September 30, 2026. That is up from $14 an hour.

The raise is the final step in a plan Florida voters approved in November 2020. That ballot measure, known as Amendment 2, passed with about 60.8% of the vote. It needed at least 60% to become part of the state constitution.

How Florida got to $15

Amendment 2 set the minimum wage at $10 on September 30, 2021, then added $1 each September 30 after that:

• 2021: $10
• 2022: $11
• 2023: $12
• 2024: $13
• 2025: $14
• 2026: $15

For comparison, the federal minimum wage is $7.25 an hour. When a state's minimum wage is higher than the federal one, employers in that state generally must pay the higher amount.

What tipped workers are owed now

Many servers, bartenders and other tipped workers are paid a lower hourly wage by their employer, with tips making up the rest. This is called a tip credit.

In Florida, the tip credit is $3.02 an hour. That means tipped workers must now get at least $11.98 an hour in direct pay from their employer. If that pay plus tips does not reach at least $15 an hour, the employer must make up the difference.

What happens next year

This is the last fixed $1 raise. Starting September 30, 2027, Florida's minimum wage will be adjusted each year for inflation, using a government measure of price changes called the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W).

That means future raises could be bigger or smaller than $1, depending on how fast prices rise.

Why some businesses are worried

Not everyone welcomed the latest increase. Samantha Padgett, a vice president with the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association, told FOX 13 that when restaurants' costs go up, "they have to constantly make adjustments." Some businesses may raise prices, cut hours or limit overtime, according to people interviewed by FOX 13.

Some workers are skeptical, too. "It's already hard," one worker told News4JAX, pointing to people who have children or other family members to support.

What this means for your wallet

For a full-time worker putting in 40 hours a week, a $1 raise adds about $40 a week before taxes, or roughly $2,080 a year. Here are steps to consider:

• Check your next pay stub. Make sure your hourly rate shows at least $15, or at least $11.98 if you are a tipped worker.
• Track your tips. Keep your own record of hours and tips so you can tell whether your total pay reaches $15 an hour.
• Know your rights. Florida employers must post a minimum wage notice at work. Workers who are underpaid can report it to the state attorney general or take legal action.
• Give your raise a job. Before the extra money blends into everyday spending, decide where it goes. Even part of it could build an emergency fund or pay down a credit card.
• Watch your hours. If your employer cuts shifts or overtime, a higher hourly rate may not mean a bigger paycheck. Compare your total pay over a few weeks.