Tipped Minimum Wage by State
Employer cash-wage requirements before tips vary drastically across the U.S. — from the $2.13/hour federal tip-credit cash floor to full state minimum wages above $16/hour in states that prohibit tip credits. Cash plus tips must still satisfy the applicable full minimum in every workweek, and employers pay a shortfall.
- Alabama ranks #1 with the lowest tipped min wage at $2.13.
- Washington ranks last at $17.13 — the highest among all states.
- The top 5 states are Alabama, Georgia, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky.
- The ranking basis, source limitations, and calculation method are documented in the Methodology section below.
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 | $15 | 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 | $12.77 | 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 | West Virginia | $2.62 | $8.75 | 84.1 | Tip Calculator |
| 20 | Arkansas | $2.63 | $11 | 89 | 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 | $16 | 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 | Michigan | $5.49 | $13.73 | 91.4 | Tip Calculator |
| 30 | Ohio | $5.5 | $11 | 90.8 | Tip Calculator |
| 31 | South Dakota | $5.93 | $11.85 | 92.6 | Tip Calculator |
| 32 | New Jersey | $6.05 | $15.92 | 115.2 | Tip Calculator |
| 33 | Connecticut | $6.38 | $16.94 | 112.8 | Tip Calculator |
| 34 | Massachusetts | $6.75 | $15 | 135 | Tip Calculator |
| 35 | Vermont | $7.21 | $14.42 | 114.5 | Tip Calculator |
| 36 | Missouri | $7.5 | $15 | 89.8 | Tip Calculator |
| 37 | Maine | $7.55 | $15.1 | 109.4 | Tip Calculator |
| 38 | Illinois | $9 | $15 | 96.4 | Tip Calculator |
| 39 | Montana | $10.85 | $10.85 | 101.6 | Tip Calculator |
| 40 | Florida | $10.98 | $14 | 102.8 | Tip Calculator |
| 41 | New York | $11.35 | $17 | 123.8 | Tip Calculator |
| 42 | Minnesota | $11.41 | $11.41 | 96.8 | Tip Calculator |
| 43 | Nevada | $12 | $12 | 104.2 | Tip Calculator |
| 44 | Colorado | $12.14 | $15.16 | 105.1 | Tip Calculator |
| 45 | Arizona | $12.15 | $15.15 | 102.2 | Tip Calculator |
| 46 | Alaska | $14 | $14 | 125.9 | Tip Calculator |
| 47 | Hawaii | $14.75 | $16 | 193.3 | Tip Calculator |
| 48 | Oregon | $15.55 | $15.55 | 113.1 | Tip Calculator |
| 49 | California | $16.9 | $16.9 | 142.2 | Tip Calculator |
| 50 | Washington | $17.13 | $17.13 | 110.7 | Tip Calculator |
Methodology
How we collected and ranked the data
States are ranked by the tipped cash-wage figure (ascending), not by workers' total minimum compensation. Data comes from the 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 phrase commonly refers to the $2.13/hour federal employer cash wage before tips when a valid tip credit applies. Cash plus tips must reach at least the $7.25 federal minimum in every workweek, and the employer pays any shortfall. Stronger state or local standards control.
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.