Florida MINIMUM WAGES

Florida State Minimum Wage for 2025

The current minimum wage in Florida is set at $14 per hour. This is part of the state’s plan to reach $15 per hour by 2026, as mandated by Amendment 2 in 2020. After 2026, the minimum wage rate will be adjusted annually based on inflation and the Consumer Price Index (CPI).

The minimum wage for tipped employees will also rise from $9.98 to $10.98 per hour in 2025. Post-2028, annual adjustments will be made in line with inflation once the minimum wage hits $15 per hour.

Minimum Wages in Florida Cities

Here’s a convenient table listing the minimum wage rates across Florida cities, including those for tipped employees.

Here is a city-wise breakdown of the top 30 cities of Florida:

Threshold For Employees Exempt

Florida generally follows the federal standards set by the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) for defining the salary threshold of exempt employees. These include employees who fall under the executive, administrative, or professional (EAP) exemptions.

As of January 1, 2025, the minimum salary threshold stands at $684 per week, or $35,568 annually. This rate was supposed to be increased to $151,164 per year but was later blocked by Texas court ruling.

EAP-exempt workers are also entitled to overtime pay if they work beyond the 40-hour workweek and earn less than $684 per week.

The salary threshold for highly compensated employees (HCE) stays constant at $684 per week. Their yearly compensation will now equate to or exceed $132,964 per year.

Historical Data of Florida Minimum Wages

Initially, Florida followed federal rules to define minimum wage rates for its employees. It lacked any state-specific regulations. However, this changed in 2004 when voters approved a constitutional amendment (Amendment 5), which established a state minimum wage of $6.15 per hour, indexed annually to inflation.

Between 2007 and 2009, federal minimum wages were higher than Florida’s inflation-adjusted wage. In 2020, Florida voters passed Amendment 2, setting a path to a $15 per hour minimum wage by 2026, with a $1 increase each year until it reaches $15 in 2026. After 2026, wages will adjust yearly, considering the Consumer Price Index (CPI).

For tipped workers, Florida has maintained a base wage rate that increases with inflation. As of September 30, 2024, the minimum wage for tipped workers will be $13 per hour from the current $12 per hour. It will continue to increase until it reaches $15 per hour by 2026.

Here is a table explaining all the changes over the period of time:

Florida Minimum Wage History (2000-2023):

Exemptions In Minimum Wages of Florida

Florida follows the federal minimum wage guidelines stated in the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) to define the eligible recipients. However, certain employees are exempt from these entitlements, including the following.

• Tipped employees such as waiters and waitresses.
• Students in vocational education programs.
• Full-time students working in retail, service industries, agriculture, or higher education institutions.
• Disabled workers, especially those with impaired productivity or earnings because of physical or mental disabilities, including injuries or age-related issues.
• Employees under 20 years during their first 90 days of employment.
• EAP employees including teachers, school administrators, outside sales employees, and those working in certain computer-related occupations.
• Employees working in some seasonal amusement or recreational establishments
• Employees of small newspapers and those engaged in newspaper delivery service.
• Seamen working in foreign vessels and those engaged in commercial fishing
• Employees working as casual babysitters or as companions to the elderly or infirm.