Hawaii minimum wage
Minimum wage in Hawaii, in effect since January 1, 2026
$16.00 an hour
That is $8.75 above the federal minimum of $7.25. Employers in Hawaii pay the higher state rate.
Next increase: $18.00 on January 1, 2028.
Tipped employees
Employers in Hawaii can pay tipped employees a cash wage of $14.75 an hour, taking a tip credit of up to $1.25, as long as tips bring the employee to at least $16.00 for every hour worked. If they don't, the employer makes up the difference. An employee counts as tipped if they get more than $20 a month in tips, and wages plus tips must be at least $7.00 above the minimum wage.
Scheduled increases
| Effective date | Standard rate | Tipped cash wage | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| January 1, 2026 (current) | $16.00 | $14.75 | In effect |
| January 1, 2028 | $18.00 | $16.50 | Set in law Tip credit rises to $1.50 (DLIR Tip Credit Notice HWHL-1a). No change scheduled for 2027. |
Exceptions and details
- Tip credit is allowed only if the employee customarily receives more than $20 a month in tips and combined wages and tips are at least $7.00 more than the minimum wage.
Common questions
- What is the minimum wage in Hawaii?
- $16.00 an hour, in effect since January 1, 2026.
- What is the tipped minimum wage in Hawaii?
- $14.75 an hour in cash wages, provided tips bring the employee up to $16.00 an hour.
- When does the Hawaii minimum wage go up?
- It rises to $18.00 on January 1, 2028.
Running payroll in Hawaii?
Recent changes
Last verified against the official source on October 9, 2026.
No changes recorded since we started tracking this page.
Sources
- Hawaii Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, Wage Standards Division · data as of January 1, 2026 · 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.