Florida Minimum Wage Increases to $14 Per Hour on September 30, 2025

What Changed

Florida's minimum wage increases from $13.00 to $14.00 per hour on September 30, 2025. The minimum cash wage for tipped employees increases from $9.98 to $10.98 per hour, with the tip credit remaining at $3.02 per hour. This increase is part of the phased schedule established by Florida Constitutional Amendment 2, approved by voters on November 3, 2020, which mandates annual $1.00 increases until the minimum wage reaches $15.00 per hour.

Who Is Affected

All Florida employers are subject to the state minimum wage. This includes:

All private-sector employers, regardless of size — there is no small employer exemption under Florida's minimum wage law.
Full-time, part-time, and temporary employees performing work in Florida.
Tipped employees — employers must ensure total compensation (cash wage plus tips) meets or exceeds the $14.00 hourly minimum. The required cash wage is $10.98 per hour.
Employers of minors — employees under 18 may be paid 15% less than the minimum wage under Florida's training wage provision.

Exemptions are narrow and include certain agricultural workers, domestic workers in some circumstances, and employees of very small businesses that are not covered by either state or federal wage law.

Where It Applies

Florida statewide. Florida does not have local minimum wage ordinances — the state rate applies uniformly across all counties and municipalities.

When It Takes Effect

The new $14.00 per hour minimum wage takes effect September 30, 2025. The next and final scheduled increase under Amendment 2 brings the rate to $15.00 per hour on September 30, 2026. Beginning in 2027, annual adjustments will be based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for inflation.

Amendment 2 schedule:

Effective Date | Minimum Wage | Tipped Cash Wage

September 30, 2024 | $13.00 | $9.98

September 30, 2025 | $14.00 | $10.98

September 30, 2026 | $15.00 | $11.98

September 30, 2027+ | CPI-adjusted | CPI-adjusted

Why It Matters

Florida's minimum wage trajectory is constitutionally mandated — it cannot be reversed by the state legislature without another constitutional amendment. This provides certainty for planning but also means employers cannot expect delays or exemptions. With the $15.00 milestone arriving in 2026, employers paying at or near the minimum should be planning now for wage compression effects: when entry-level wages rise, experienced employees often expect corresponding adjustments.

For employers with tipped workers, ensuring tip credit compliance is critical. The cash wage must be at least $10.98, and if tips do not bring total compensation to $14.00 per hour, the employer must make up the difference. Failure to comply exposes employers to back-pay claims and potential penalties under both state and federal wage law.

Florida employers must also update their minimum wage workplace posters to reflect the new rate. The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity publishes updated posters annually.

The Humareso Take

This one is predictable but still catches people off guard. Because the increase date is September 30 — not January 1 like most states — it tends to sneak up on employers who budget on a calendar year. If you have Florida-based employees, make sure your payroll is updated before the first pay period that includes September 30. And if you have not already started planning for $15.00 per hour next year, now is the time. Wage compression conversations are easier to have proactively than reactively.

Recommended Action Steps

Update payroll systems to reflect the $14.00 per hour minimum wage and $10.98 tipped cash wage before the first pay period including September 30, 2025.
Audit current pay rates for all Florida-based employees to identify anyone at or near the new minimum and address wage compression proactively.
Review tip credit compliance for tipped employees — confirm that total hourly compensation (cash wage plus tips) consistently meets or exceeds $14.00 per hour.
Post the updated Florida minimum wage poster in a conspicuous location accessible to all employees at every Florida worksite.
Begin budgeting for the $15.00 per hour increase on September 30, 2026, including any planned adjustments for experienced workers to maintain pay differentials.
Contact your Humareso representative for assistance with wage analysis, poster compliance, or handbook updates related to the Florida minimum wage increase.