Minimum Wage in Florida in 2023

The minimum wage in Florida is $11 as of Sept. 30, 2022, for most types of full-time and part-time employment. However, minimum wage workers will be seeing a bump in pay this year, as the state plans to institute an increase in the minimum wage from $11 to $12 in 2023.

Unfortunately for minimum wage employees, this change will not go into effect on Jan. 1. Florida residents will need to wait until Sept. 30, 2023 to see their minimum wage increase go into effect.

What Is the Minimum Wage in Florida?

In Florida, most full-time and part-time workers are entitled to an hourly wage of at least $11 per hour. Tipped employees may earn as little as $7.98 per hour from their employer, and they must report their tips at the end of each shift.

In September 2023, Florida employees earning minimum wage will see an increase in their hourly wage from $11 to $12, part of an overall plan to move the Sunshine State towards a $15 minimum wage.

Is the Minimum Wage in Florida $15 per Hour?

The minimum wage in Florida is not currently $15 per hour, and the minimum wage will remain $11 per hour until the end of September 2023.

However, Florida put a plan in place in 2020 to create a path towards a $15 minimum wage. Florida is set to increase the minimum wage by $1 each year until the state reaches a final $15 minimum wage on September 30, 2026. Unlike some states — like California — all employers are required to pay the state minimum wage over the lower federal minimum wage, regardless of how many employees the business has on its payroll with few exceptions.

Types of Minimum Wages in Florida

There are some workers who are exempt from the regular minimum wage in Florida: workers under 20 years old, those who earn tips and students.

Minimum Wage for Workers Under 20

Employees who are under 20 years old may earn $4.25 per hour as a training wage. This is effective until after 90 days of employment, when their pay is raised to the standard minimum wage of $11 per hour.

Tipped Minimum Wage

Employees who earn tips — like waiters and bartenders — have a different minimum wage than most of the state because their tips are used to calculate hourly earnings.

Employers may pay tipped workers a base wage of $7.98 per hour, and the employee is required to report their tips at the end of each evening. If the amount that the employee earned in tips plus the base hourly wage does not add up to at least $11 per hour, the employer must make up the difference. This gives the employee the opportunity to collect tips while also ensuring that they have the right to earn at least the minimum wage.

Student Minimum Wage

Students in high school or college with part time jobs receive 85% of the standard minimum wage — this amounts to $9.35 per hour as of September 2022. The lower rate is applicable for student workers who put in up to 20 hours per week.

Which States Have the Highest Minimum Wages?

The state with the current highest minimum wage in the United States is Washington, where minimum wage employees are entitled to earn at least $15.74 per hour. While Washington has the highest statewide minimum wage in the country, this doesn’t tell the whole story when it comes to areas where minimum wage employees can earn the most money.

For example, California has a statewide minimum wage of $15.50 per hour, but several cities within California have higher minimum wages.

While it’s not a state, Washington, D.C. is the place where minimum wage workers currently earn the most money. The minimum wage in Washington, D.C. is $16.50 per hour. This wage is also scheduled for an increase in mid-2023 — beginning July 1, 2023, the minimum wage in Washington, D.C. will be $17 per hour.

Which States Have the Lowest Minimum Wages?

Technically, the states with the lowest minimum wages are the states that do not have a minimum wage at all. Five states — South Carolina, Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana — do not have an official state minimum wage in place. There are also two states with minimum wages lower than the federal minimum: Georgia and Wyoming.

However, the Fair Labor Standards Act protects residents in these states with the federal minimum wage. In states where the minimum wage is less than $7.25, residents are protected by the federal minimum wage law. With few exceptions, employers in these states must pay each employee a minimum of $7.25 per hour.

Final Take

While Florida has a lower minimum wage than some other states, it’s important to remember that increases in the minimum wage are usually put in place as a response to rising living costs. Minimum wage workers might make more per hour in California or New York when compared to a similar role in Florida, but they may also need to spend more on everyday expenses like housing, food and transportation costs.

If you’re a minimum wage worker planning a move to a new state, be sure to consider all of these expenses and factor them into your overall household budget before you hit the road.

Katy Hebebrand contributed to the reporting for this article.

This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: Minimum Wage in Florida in 2023