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Tennessee: 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 wageFederal rules apply
Maximum tip credit$5.12
Minimum cash wage$2.13

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 Tennessee.

How Tennessee compares

$2.13 ranks 35 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 Tennessee: Workers' comp deadlines in Tennessee · Workers' comp benefits in Tennessee · Paid leave programs in Tennessee · Minimum wage in Tennessee · Final paycheck rules in Tennessee · Unemployment benefits in Tennessee · Meal break laws in Tennessee · Payday frequency in Tennessee · Rest break laws in Tennessee · Noncompete laws in Tennessee · All Tennessee 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.