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California: tipped minimum wage

The cash wage employers must pay tipped workers, how much of the minimum wage tips can cover, and the full minimum.

Checked on official source
Full minimum wage$16.90
Maximum tip creditNone: full minimum before tips
Minimum cash wage$16.90

If your cash wage plus tips falls short of the full minimum wage in any workweek, your employer must make up the difference. Your employer cannot keep any of your tips.

General information only, not legal, insurance or financial advice. Not affiliated with any government agency. Exceptions can apply. Confirm with the state agency, the court or a licensed professional in California.

How California compares

$16.90 ranks 2 of 50 (1 = highest) for minimum cash wage for tipped workers.

Lowest $2.13Highest $17.13

Alaska: $14.00AKMaine: $7.55MEVermont: $7.21VTNew Hampshire: $3.27NHWashington: $17.13WAIdaho: $3.35IDMontana: $10.85MTNorth Dakota: $4.86NDMinnesota: $11.41MNIllinois: $9.00ILWisconsin: $2.33WIMichigan: $5.49MINew York: Varies; see NY DOLNYRhode Island: $3.89RIMassachusetts: $6.75MAOregon: $15.55ORNevada: $12.00NVWyoming: $2.13WYSouth Dakota: $5.93SDIowa: $4.35IAIndiana: $2.13INOhio: $5.50OHPennsylvania: $2.83PANew Jersey: $6.05NJConnecticut: $6.38 (bartenders $8.23)CTCalifornia: $16.90CAUtah: $2.13UTColorado: $12.14CONebraska: $2.13NEMissouri: $7.50MOKentucky: $2.13KYWest Virginia: $2.62WVVirginia: $2.13VAMaryland: $3.63MDDelaware: $2.23DEArizona: $12.15AZNew Mexico: $3.00NMKansas: $2.13KSArkansas: $2.63ARTennessee: $2.13TNNorth Carolina: $2.13NCSouth Carolina: $2.13SCDistrict of Columbia: $10.30DCOklahoma: $2.13OKLouisiana: $2.13LAMississippi: $2.13MSAlabama: $2.13ALGeorgia: $2.13GAHawaii: $14.75HITexas: $2.13TXFlorida: $10.98FL
  • $2.13 (16)
  • $2.23 – $2.83 (5)
  • $3 – $5.93 (10)
  • $6.05 – $10.98 (10)
  • $11.41 – $17.13 (9)
  • None / not set (1)

Also for California: Workers' comp deadlines in California · Workers' comp benefits in California · Paid leave programs in California · Minimum wage in California · Final paycheck rules in California · Unemployment benefits in California · Meal break laws in California · Payday frequency in California · Rest break laws in California · Noncompete laws in California · All California rules on one page

How we checked this

Rates come from the U.S. Department of Labor's table of state minimum wages for tipped employees, dated July 1, 2026. Last checked: November 12, 2026. Laws change; confirm with the state agency or a licensed professional before acting.

Cross-checked sources agree   Checked on official source confirmed on a government, court or legislature site   Single detailed source one detailed table built from statutes or official data   Under review sources disagree; read the note and the law.