Georgia minimum wage
Minimum wage in Georgia, in effect since July 24, 2009
$7.25 an hour
Georgia sets a state minimum of $5.15, below the federal rate, so the federal minimum of $7.25 applies to employers covered by the Fair Labor Standards Act.
Next increase: none announced as of October 9, 2026.
Tipped employees
Employers in Georgia can pay tipped employees a cash wage of $2.13 an hour, taking a tip credit of up to $5.12, as long as tips bring the employee to at least $7.25 for every hour worked. If they don't, the employer makes up the difference.
Exceptions and details
- Georgia's minimum wage is $5.15 an hour, but with limited exceptions the federal minimum wage of $7.25 applies (O.C.G.A. § 34-4-3; FLSA).
- The state law applies to employers of 6 or more employees and excludes employment covered by the federal FLSA when the federal rate is higher (DOL WHD state table).
- Georgia's state minimum wage law does not apply to tipped employees; FLSA-covered employers may pay tipped employees $2.13 an hour in cash wages (DOL WHD tipped table).
- Georgia's $5.15 state rate applies only to employers the federal law doesn't cover; official pages don't state when it took effect. The federal $7.25 (since July 24, 2009) applies to most employers.
Common questions
- What is the minimum wage in Georgia?
- $7.25 an hour, in effect since July 24, 2009.
- What is the tipped minimum wage in Georgia?
- $2.13 an hour in cash wages, provided tips bring the employee up to $7.25 an hour.
- When does the Georgia minimum wage go up?
- No increase had been announced as of October 9, 2026.
Running payroll in Georgia?
Recent changes
Last verified against the official source on October 9, 2026.
No changes recorded since we started tracking this page.
Sources
- Georgia Department of Labor · data as of July 24, 2009 · last checked October 9, 2026
We copy figures from official sources and re-check them against the source before every update. See our methodology. This is general information, not legal advice.