Florida's minimum wage for tipped employees is $11.98 an hour as of September 30, 2026. That's the state minimum wage of $15.00 minus Florida's fixed $3.02 tip credit. From September 30, 2025 through September 29, 2026, the tipped rate was $10.98 ($14.00 minus $3.02).
| Period | Florida minimum wage | Tip credit | Tipped cash wage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sept. 30, 2025 – Sept. 29, 2026 | $14.00 | $3.02 | $10.98 |
| From Sept. 30, 2026 | $15.00 | $3.02 | $11.98 |
| Federal FLSA (for comparison) | $7.25 | $5.12 | $2.13 |
How the Florida tip credit works
Florida lets employers count up to $3.02 an hour of an employee's tips toward the state minimum wage. The employer pays at least the tipped cash wage, and tips must make up the rest. If an employee's cash wage plus tips for a workweek falls short of the full minimum wage, the employer has to pay the difference.
Under the U.S. Department of Labor's summary, a tipped employee in Florida is one who customarily receives more than $30 a month in tips, the same threshold the federal FLSA uses.
Example
A server works 30 hours in a week after September 30, 2026. The restaurant pays $11.98 an hour, or $359.40. The full minimum wage for those hours is $450.00 (30 × $15.00), so the server's tips have to be at least $90.60 for the week (30 × $3.02). If tips come in at only $60, the employer owes another $30.60.
Why Florida's rate keeps rising
Florida voters approved a schedule that raised the state minimum wage by $1.00 every September 30 until it reached $15.00 on September 30, 2026. Because the tip credit stays at $3.02, the tipped cash wage rose by the same $1.00 each year. Check FloridaCommerce's minimum wage notice each fall for the current rate.
Taxes on tips in Florida
Florida has no state personal income tax, so tipped workers there deal only with federal tax on tips. Tips are taxable income and subject to Social Security and Medicare tax, but for 2025 through 2028 workers in listed occupations can deduct up to $25,000 of qualified tips on their federal return. See our No Tax on Tips rules and try the No Tax on Tips calculator.
What is the minimum wage in Florida for tipped employees?
$11.98 an hour as of September 30, 2026: the $15.00 state minimum wage minus a $3.02 tip credit. Tips must bring total pay to at least $15.00 an hour, or the employer pays the difference.
What was the Florida tipped minimum wage in 2025?
From September 30, 2025 through September 29, 2026, it was $10.98 an hour ($14.00 minus the $3.02 tip credit).
How much is the Florida tip credit?
$3.02 an hour. Employers can count up to that much of an employee's tips toward the state minimum wage.
Who counts as a tipped employee in Florida?
An employee who customarily and regularly receives more than $30 a month in tips, per the U.S. Department of Labor's state summary.
Is the Florida tipped minimum wage higher than the federal rate?
Yes. The federal minimum cash wage for tipped employees is $2.13 an hour. Florida's $11.98 is far higher, and employers must follow the higher state rate.
This article is general information, not legal advice. Rates were checked against the U.S. Department of Labor's tipped minimum wage table (July 1, 2026) and its note on Florida's September 30, 2026 increase. Confirm current rates with FloridaCommerce.