Tipped Minimum Wage by State (2026)
Cash wage, tip credit, and the states where tips don't reduce the minimum. Every figure verified against DOL and state sources.
⚠ A tip credit is not a discount on the minimum
In every state, cash wage + tips must reach the full minimum wage — if they don't, the employer must make up the difference. And in 7 states there is no tip credit at all: the employer pays the full minimum and the worker keeps all tips on top.
The 7 states with NO tip credit
Employers pay the full state minimum before any tips; tips belong to the worker on top.
| State | Full minimum 2026 |
|---|---|
 Alaska | $14.00 |
 California | $16.90 |
 Minnesota | $11.41 |
 Montana | $10.85 |
 Nevada | $12.00 |
 Oregon | $16.80 |
 Washington | $17.13 |
Top 10 highest tipped cash wages (2026)
| State | Tipped cash wage | Full minimum 2026 | Tip credit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $17.13 | $17.13 | none |
| California | $16.90 | $16.90 | none |
| Oregon | $16.80 | $16.80 | none |
| Hawaii | $14.75 | $16.00 | $1.25 |
| Alaska | $14.00 | $14.00 | none |
| Arizona | $12.15 | $15.15 | $3.00 |
| Colorado | $12.14 | $15.16 | $3.02 |
| Nevada | $12.00 | $12.00 | none |
| Minnesota | $11.41 | $11.41 | none |
| Montana | $10.85 | $10.85 | none |
All 51 states & DC — complete table
| Jurisdiction | Tipped cash wage | Full minimum 2026 | Tip credit |
|---|---|---|---|
 Alabama | $2.13 | $7.25 | 5.12 |
| Alaska | $14.00 | $14.00 | none |
 Arizona | $12.15 | $15.15 | $3.00 |
 Arkansas | $2.63 | $11.00 | $8.37 |
| California | $16.90 | $16.90 | none |
 Colorado | $12.14 | $15.16 | $3.02 |
 Connecticut | $6.38 | $16.94 | $10.56 |
 Delaware | $2.23 | $15.00 | $12.77 |
 District of Columbia | $10.30 | $18.40 | $8.10 |
 Florida | $9.98 | $15.00 | $5.02 |
 Georgia | $2.13 | $7.25 | $5.12 |
 Hawaii | $14.75 | $16.00 | $1.25 |
 Idaho | $3.35 | $7.25 | $3.90 |
 Illinois | $9.00 | $15.00 | $6.00 |
 Indiana | $2.13 | $7.25 | $5.12 |
 Iowa | $4.35 | $7.25 | $2.90 |
 Kansas | $2.13 | $7.25 | $5.12 |
 Kentucky | $2.13 | $7.25 | $5.12 |
 Louisiana | $2.13 | $7.25 | 5.12 |
 Maine | $7.55 | $15.10 | $7.55 |
 Maryland | $3.63 | $15.00 | $11.37 |
 Massachusetts | $6.75 | $15.00 | $8.25 |
 Michigan | $5.49 | $13.73 | $8.24 |
| Minnesota | $11.41 | $11.41 | none |
 Mississippi | $2.13 | $7.25 | 5.12 |
 Missouri | $7.50 | $15.00 | $7.50 |
| Montana | $10.85 | $10.85 | none |
 Nebraska | $2.13 | $15.00 | $12.87 |
| Nevada | $12.00 | $12.00 | none |
 New Hampshire | $3.27 | $7.25 | $3.98 |
 New Jersey | $6.05 | $15.92 | $9.87 |
 New Mexico | $3.00 | $12.00 | $9.00 |
 New York | $10.70–$14.15 | $17.00 | varies |
 North Carolina | $2.13 | $7.25 | $5.12 |
 North Dakota | $4.86 | $7.25 | $2.39 |
 Ohio | $5.50 | $11.00 | $5.50 |
 Oklahoma | $2.13 | $7.25 | $5.12 |
| Oregon | $16.80 | $16.80 | none |
 Pennsylvania | $2.83 | $7.25 | $4.42 |
 Rhode Island | $3.89 | $16.00 | $12.11 |
 South Carolina | $2.13 | $7.25 | 5.12 |
 South Dakota | $5.93 | $11.85 | $5.92 |
 Tennessee | $2.13 | $7.25 | 5.12 |
 Texas | $2.13 | $7.25 | $5.12 |
 Utah | $2.13 | $7.25 | $5.12 |
 Vermont | $7.21 | $14.42 | $7.21 |
 Virginia | $2.13 | $12.77 | $10.64 |
| Washington | $17.13 | $17.13 | none |
 West Virginia | $2.62 | $8.75 | $6.13 |
 Wisconsin | $2.33 | $7.25 | $4.92 |
 Wyoming | $2.13 | $7.25 | $5.12 |
Tip credit = full minimum − tipped cash wage. A "none" badge means the state bans tip credits (tipped staff must receive the full minimum). Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Tennessee have no state minimum wage law — the federal FLSA applies ($2.13 cash / $5.12 credit). New York sets tipped wages by region × industry — see the official NY DOL table ↗.
Sources: state labor agencies (OR BOLI · NY DOL · NV LCB, direct-verified) · Wikipedia "Wages and tips by state" · cross-checked 2026-09-28 against DOL and official state tables for 10 states incl. all July-1 adjusted states (DC/OR/AK/NV/CT/FL). Independent verification: U.S. DOL tipped wage table ↗. Tip credit = full minimum − tipped cash wage. A pending change in your state? See the state-by-state minimum wage table or each state's page.