What is the minimum wage in Florida?

This article lays out what Florida's statutory minimum wage is in 2026, who is typically covered, and how the nominal rate compares with local living-wage and family-budget measures. It aims to help voters and residents understand practical impacts and find authoritative sources.

The content relies on the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity for the statutory schedule, the U.S. Department of Labor for federal coverage guidance, and neutral research tools such as the MIT Living Wage Calculator and the Economic Policy Institute for local cost context. Short steps and examples show how to estimate household effects.

Florida's statutory schedule reaches 15.00 per hour on September 30, 2026.

County living-wage estimates and family budgets show that 15.00 per hour buys different levels of essentials across Florida metros.

Use hourly times weekly hours times 4.33 to estimate monthly pay and compare to local benchmarks.

Quick answer: what Florida’s minimum wage is now and why it matters

Short answer

Florida’s statutory minimum wage reaches 15.00 per hour on September 30, 2026, under the voter-approved schedule from Amendment 2 (2020), and the state page lists the applicable schedule and dates for each step Florida Department of Economic Opportunity minimum wage page.

Where to confirm the number

The schedule and implementation details are summarized by the state, and Ballotpedia provides the ballot and amendment context for the voter approval that set the multi-year increases Ballotpedia on Amendment 2. A recent bill analysis is also available from the Florida Senate.

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The statutory schedule raised the wage each year by 1.00 per step from 2021 through 2026, with the 14.00 per hour step effective September 30, 2025 as part of the same plan Florida Department of Economic Opportunity minimum wage page.

Quick checklist of primary pages to confirm the current statutory rate and coverage

Florida DEO minimum wage page
U.S. DOL Wage and Hour page
Local living wage tool

Use the state page for the statutory schedule

How Florida sets the minimum wage: Amendment 2 and the state schedule

Timeline of annual increases

Voters approved Amendment 2 in 2020, which created a phased schedule of annual increases culminating in the 15.00 per hour level in 2026; Ballotpedia summarizes the ballot language and vote context Ballotpedia on Amendment 2.

Legal basis and where the number comes from

The statutory implementation and the exact dates for the increases are maintained on the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity site, which is the authoritative state source for the schedule and related guidance Florida Department of Economic Opportunity minimum wage page.

Who is covered: state coverage, federal exemptions, and common categories

Typical employees covered

State law covers most employees in Florida, but coverage can vary based on job facts and legal classification; for definitive guidance the U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division explains how federal Fair Labor Standards Act rules interact with state law U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division Florida page. Practical summaries of Florida rules and coverage are also collected at specialist sites RemoteLaws.

What is Florida's minimum wage in 2026 and how does it compare to local living costs?

Florida's statutory schedule reaches 15.00 per hour on September 30, 2026; local living-wage and family-budget estimates show that this nominal rate provides different purchasing power across counties, so compare estimated monthly earnings to county-level benchmarks and adjust for local price differences.

Common exemptions and where to check

Common categories that often raise questions include independent contractors, some interns, and other classifications that the FLSA or state rules treat differently; the state page and DOL guidance are the primary places to check specifics and examples U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division Florida page.

How $15 compares to living-wage and family-budget estimates across Florida

State and county living-wage figures

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County-level living-wage estimates from the MIT Living Wage Calculator show that in many Florida counties a single adult’s living wage exceeded the statutory minimum in 2024 and 2025, which means the same nominal hourly rate buys different levels of basic needs in different places MIT Living Wage Calculator for Florida.

Family budget findings

Family budget analysis from the Economic Policy Institute indicates that a single parent with one child typically needs hourly earnings above 15.00 per hour to cover housing, childcare, food, transportation, and healthcare in most Florida metropolitan areas Economic Policy Institute family budget resources.

How to calculate what $15 per hour means for your household

Step-by-step monthly income estimate

Start with the hourly wage and multiply by expected weekly hours, then multiply by 4.33 to estimate a monthly figure; for example, a full-time 40-hour week at 15.00 per hour gives 15.00 times 40 times 4.33 as a simple monthly approximation MIT Living Wage Calculator for Florida.

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Use the step-by-step calculation and then compare the result to local living-wage estimates and state guidance to judge adequacy.

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Compare to local living-wage and budget figures

After estimating monthly earnings, compare that number to county living-wage figures and EPI family-budget estimates, and adjust for local price differences using regional CPI or similar measures to reflect purchasing power differences across metros BLS Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach CPI data.

Common scenarios: single adult, single parent, and households with children

Single adult budgets

In many Florida counties, MIT estimates show a single adult often needs more than the statutory minimum to cover basic expenses, particularly where housing costs are higher MIT Living Wage Calculator for Florida.

Single-parent and family budgets

EPI modeling finds that single parents with one child commonly require hourly earnings well above 15.00 per hour to meet typical family costs in most metropolitan areas, with childcare and housing usually the largest budget drivers Economic Policy Institute family budget resources.

County examples: Miami-Dade and Broward in focus

Living-wage and CPI evidence for higher-cost metros

MIT county estimates show that living-wage levels in counties such as Miami-Dade and Broward have tended to exceed the statutory minimum, which reduces the purchasing power of a 15.00 per hour wage in those places MIT Living Wage Calculator for Florida.

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Example calculations for those counties

An illustrative calculation: at 15.00 per hour, a 40-hour week yields roughly 15.00 times 40 times 4.33 as monthly pay before taxes; compare that number to the county living-wage and EPI family-budget figures to see the shortfall or surplus in Miami-Dade and Broward, using local CPI adjustments for a more accurate comparison BLS Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach CPI data.

Why a nominal $15 is not the same as the purchasing power you need

Inflation and regional price differences

Nominal wages do not show how far pay goes in local markets; CPI and regional price differences change purchasing power and can make the same hourly rate buy more or less in different metros BLS Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach CPI data.

Other factors that affect take-home standards of living

Housing, childcare, healthcare, taxes, commuting costs, and hours worked all affect whether a statutory wage meets household needs, which is why comparing to a living-wage or family-budget benchmark is important MIT Living Wage Calculator for Florida.

Where to check official updates: state and federal sources

Primary state pages

The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity minimum wage page is the primary state source for the statutory schedule and any administrative guidance, and readers should consult it for the official rate and effective dates Florida Department of Economic Opportunity minimum wage page. Local reporting on changes is available at Tallahassee.com.

Federal Wage and Hour guidance

The U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division provides the federal perspective on exemptions and FLSA coverage, which matters for certain classifications and edge cases where state and federal rules intersect U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division Florida page.

Typical mistakes and data pitfalls to avoid

Mixing nominal and real values

A common error is comparing nominal wages without adjusting for inflation or regional price differences; use CPI or regional price parity measures when you compare an hourly rate across years or geographies BLS Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach CPI data.

Comparing incompatible geographies

Another pitfall is mixing county living-wage figures with nonmatching metro CPI data; always match the geographic unit when comparing living-wage and price-index numbers to avoid misleading conclusions MIT Living Wage Calculator for Florida.

Practical steps for workers and employers after you know the rate

What workers can calculate

Workers can calculate expected monthly earnings using hourly pay times weekly hours times 4.33, then compare to local living-wage and family-budget numbers and adjust for local CPI to assess adequacy MIT Living Wage Calculator for Florida. Also see Michael Carbonara’s site for related posts.

What employers should verify

Employers should review the state minimum wage page for the statutory schedule, check FLSA classifications with the U.S. DOL Wage and Hour guidance, and ensure proper pay practices and recordkeeping in light of state and federal rules U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division Florida page, and consult our issues page for related coverage.

Questions voters often ask about minimum wage and cost of living

Short answers with source links

Is 15.00 per hour the statutory rate? Yes, the statutory schedule reaches 15.00 per hour on September 30, 2026; the state page lists the schedule and effective dates Florida Department of Economic Opportunity minimum wage page.

When to consult primary sources

For questions about whether a specific worker is exempt or how tip credits might apply, consult the U.S. DOL Wage and Hour Division and the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity for authoritative guidance and examples U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division Florida page.

Summary: key takeaways about Florida’s statutory wage and local cost implications

Three quick points to remember

The statutory schedule reaches 15.00 per hour on September 30, 2026 and the state page lists the schedule and effective dates Florida Department of Economic Opportunity minimum wage page.

Living-wage and family-budget estimates show that 15.00 per hour has different purchasing power across Florida metros, and higher-cost counties like Miami-Dade and Broward often need higher hourly pay to cover basic needs MIT Living Wage Calculator for Florida.

Use the simple hourly-times-hours-times-4.33 calculation, compare to local living-wage and EPI family-budget figures, and consult state and federal pages for coverage and exemption questions Economic Policy Institute family budget resources.

Is 15.00 per hour the law in Florida?

Yes. The voter-approved schedule reaches 15.00 per hour on September 30, 2026; check the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity for the official schedule.

Does every worker in Florida get the state minimum wage?

Most employees are covered, but federal FLSA exemptions and specific categories such as independent contractors or some interns can affect coverage; consult state and DOL guidance for specifics.

How can I tell if 15.00 per hour will cover my household needs?

Estimate monthly earnings from hourly pay and compare to county living-wage estimates and EPI family-budget figures, adjusting for local price levels.

Check the state minimum wage page and the U.S. DOL Wage and Hour resources for authoritative updates and guidance. Use local living-wage and family-budget tools to test household scenarios and adjust for the regional price environment.

References

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