Tipped Minimum Wage by State
Tipped minimum wages vary drastically across the U.S. — from $2.13/hour (the federal tipped minimum) to over $16/hour in states that require full minimum wage for tipped workers. Understanding your state's tipped wage helps inform appropriate tipping. In states where servers earn very low base pay, tips make up the vast majority of their income.
- Alabama ranks #1 with the lowest tipped min wage at $2.13.
- Washington ranks last at $16.66 — the highest among all states.
- The top 5 states are Alabama, Georgia, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky.
- All data is sourced from verified government databases and updated for 2026.
Top 3 States
All 50 States Ranked
Lowest to highest by tipped min wage
| # | State | Tipped Min Wage | Regular Min Wage | Cost of Living | Calculator |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alabama | $2.13 | $7.25 | 88.1 | Tip Calculator |
| 2 | Georgia | $2.13 | $7.25 | 93.4 | Tip Calculator |
| 3 | Indiana | $2.13 | $7.25 | 90.5 | Tip Calculator |
| 4 | Kansas | $2.13 | $7.25 | 86.3 | Tip Calculator |
| 5 | Kentucky | $2.13 | $7.25 | 90.3 | Tip Calculator |
| 6 | Louisiana | $2.13 | $7.25 | 91.1 | Tip Calculator |
| 7 | Mississippi | $2.13 | $7.25 | 83.3 | Tip Calculator |
| 8 | Nebraska | $2.13 | $13.5 | 90.8 | Tip Calculator |
| 9 | North Carolina | $2.13 | $7.25 | 95.1 | Tip Calculator |
| 10 | Oklahoma | $2.13 | $7.25 | 86.6 | Tip Calculator |
| 11 | South Carolina | $2.13 | $7.25 | 95 | Tip Calculator |
| 12 | Tennessee | $2.13 | $7.25 | 89.7 | Tip Calculator |
| 13 | Texas | $2.13 | $7.25 | 93.9 | Tip Calculator |
| 14 | Utah | $2.13 | $7.25 | 101.3 | Tip Calculator |
| 15 | Virginia | $2.13 | $12 | 103.7 | Tip Calculator |
| 16 | Wyoming | $2.13 | $7.25 | 95.2 | Tip Calculator |
| 17 | Delaware | $2.23 | $15 | 101.5 | Tip Calculator |
| 18 | Wisconsin | $2.33 | $7.25 | 93.3 | Tip Calculator |
| 19 | Arkansas | $2.63 | $11 | 89 | Tip Calculator |
| 20 | West Virginia | $2.63 | $8.75 | 84.1 | Tip Calculator |
| 21 | Pennsylvania | $2.83 | $7.25 | 98.7 | Tip Calculator |
| 22 | New Mexico | $3 | $12 | 94.6 | Tip Calculator |
| 23 | New Hampshire | $3.27 | $7.25 | 112.6 | Tip Calculator |
| 24 | Idaho | $3.35 | $7.25 | 97.7 | Tip Calculator |
| 25 | Maryland | $3.63 | $15 | 115.4 | Tip Calculator |
| 26 | Rhode Island | $3.89 | $15 | 107.8 | Tip Calculator |
| 27 | Iowa | $4.35 | $7.25 | 90.1 | Tip Calculator |
| 28 | North Dakota | $4.86 | $7.25 | 92.5 | Tip Calculator |
| 29 | Ohio | $5.35 | $10.7 | 90.8 | Tip Calculator |
| 30 | New Jersey | $5.62 | $15.49 | 115.2 | Tip Calculator |
| 31 | South Dakota | $5.75 | $11.5 | 92.6 | Tip Calculator |
| 32 | Connecticut | $6.38 | $16.35 | 112.8 | Tip Calculator |
| 33 | Massachusetts | $6.75 | $15 | 135 | Tip Calculator |
| 34 | Missouri | $6.88 | $13.75 | 89.8 | Tip Calculator |
| 35 | Vermont | $7.01 | $14.01 | 114.5 | Tip Calculator |
| 36 | Maine | $7.33 | $14.65 | 109.4 | Tip Calculator |
| 37 | Illinois | $9 | $15 | 96.4 | Tip Calculator |
| 38 | Florida | $9.98 | $13 | 102.8 | Tip Calculator |
| 39 | Montana | $10.55 | $10.55 | 101.6 | Tip Calculator |
| 40 | Michigan | $10.73 | $12.48 | 91.4 | Tip Calculator |
| 41 | Minnesota | $11.13 | $11.13 | 96.8 | Tip Calculator |
| 42 | New York | $11.15 | $16.5 | 123.8 | Tip Calculator |
| 43 | Arizona | $11.7 | $14.7 | 102.2 | Tip Calculator |
| 44 | Alaska | $11.73 | $11.73 | 125.9 | Tip Calculator |
| 45 | Colorado | $11.79 | $14.81 | 105.1 | Tip Calculator |
| 46 | Nevada | $12 | $12 | 104.2 | Tip Calculator |
| 47 | Hawaii | $13.25 | $14 | 193.3 | Tip Calculator |
| 48 | Oregon | $14.7 | $14.7 | 113.1 | Tip Calculator |
| 49 | California | $16.5 | $16.5 | 142.2 | Tip Calculator |
| 50 | Washington | $16.66 | $16.66 | 110.7 | Tip Calculator |
Methodology
How we collected and ranked the data
States are ranked by tipped minimum wage (ascending) to highlight where tips are most critical for worker income. Data from U.S. Department of Labor and state labor department websites.
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View all 107 state comparisonsFrequently Asked Questions
What is the federal tipped minimum wage?
The federal tipped minimum wage is $2.13/hour. Employers must ensure that tips bring total compensation to at least the regular federal minimum wage of $7.25/hour. If tips fall short, the employer must make up the difference.
Which states pay full minimum wage to tipped workers?
California, Washington, Oregon, Nevada, Minnesota, Montana, and Alaska require employers to pay the full state minimum wage to tipped workers before tips. These states have no tip credit.
How much should I tip based on my state?
The standard tip is 15–20% of the pre-tax bill. In states where tipped workers earn only $2.13/hour, tips are especially critical. In states paying full minimum wage, tips are still customary but service workers rely less heavily on them.