Florida’s minimum wage, already higher than the federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour, will see another increase in September 2024. Since 2009, the federal minimum wage has remained at $7.25, but states like Florida have implemented progressive increases. This September, the minimum wage in the Sunshine State will rise from $12 to $13 per hour, with a $9.98 per hour wage for tipped employees.
This increase is part of a gradual plan approved by Florida voters in November 2020, when Amendment 2 to the state Constitution was ratified. This amendment provides for an annual increase in the minimum wage until it reaches $15 per hour on September 30, 2026.
Since then, it has been increasing by one dollar per year, and this pattern will continue until the established goal is reached.
Future increases to the minimum wage in Florida
Beginning in 2025, the minimum wage is expected to rise to $14 per hour, while tipped employees will earn $10.98 per hour. By 2026, the minimum wage will reach $15 per hour, and $11.98 for those who rely on tips.
The amendment also provides that once the $15 per hour threshold is reached, future increases will be tied to the Consumer Price Index (CPI), ensuring that wages maintain their value in the face of inflation.
This adjustment system will begin in 2028, ensuring that workers’ purchasing power is not affected by the rising cost of living.
The importance of complying with the minimum wage in Florida
Employers in Florida are required to pay the state minimum wage to all employees for hours worked.
Workers who are not paid adequately have the right to file a civil lawsuit against their employers, as provided for by the state’s minimum wage law.
This phased increase in Florida’s minimum wage is intended to improve the standard of living of Florida’s workers by protecting their incomes from inflation and ensuring stable purchasing power.
In addition to Florida, more than 30 states in the United States have minimum wages higher than the federal minimum wage, which has remained at $7.25 per hour for 15 years.
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