Waitress minimum wage by state varies enormously across the country, from $2.13/hr in most states to the full state minimum wage in states that ban the tip credit entirely. Here's the exact server and waitress tipped minimum wage for every US state.
What Is the Waitress Minimum Wage by State?
The tipped minimum wage is the direct cash wage an employer can pay a tipped employee like a server or bartender, lower than the full minimum wage, as long as tips make up the difference to reach the full rate. Seven states, Alaska, California, Minnesota, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington, don't allow this "tip credit" at all and require the full state minimum wage in cash, before tips.
Under the Fair Labor Standards Act, a tipped employee is someone who customarily and regularly receives more than $30 a month in tips, a threshold that determines whether the lower tipped minimum wage can legally apply at all.
Server and Waitress Minimum Wage by State (2026)
| State | Full Minimum Wage | Tipped Cash Wage | Max Tip Credit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $17.33 | $17.33 (no tip credit) | $0.00 |
| Connecticut | $16.94 | $10.71 | $6.23 |
| California | $16.50 | $16.50 (no tip credit) | $0.00 |
| New York | $16.00 | $10.65 | $5.35 |
| Rhode Island | $16.00 | $3.89 | $12.11 |
| New Jersey | $15.49 | $5.62 | $9.87 |
| Oregon | $15.45 | $15.45 (no tip credit) | $0.00 |
| Arizona | $15.15 | $12.15 | $3.00 |
| Massachusetts | $15.00 | $6.75 | $8.25 |
| Delaware | $15.00 | $2.23 | $12.77 |
| Illinois | $15.00 | $9.00 | $6.00 |
| Maryland | $15.00 | $3.63 | $11.37 |
| Missouri | $15.00 | $7.50 | $7.50 |
| Nebraska | $15.00 | $2.13 | $12.87 |
| Colorado | $14.81 | $11.79 | $3.02 |
| Maine | $14.65 | $7.33 | $7.32 |
| Vermont | $14.42 | $7.21 | $7.21 |
| Florida | $14.00 | $11.98 | $3.02 |
| Hawaii | $14.00 | $12.75 | $1.25 |
| Alaska | $13.00 | $13.00 (no tip credit) | $0.00 |
| Virginia | $12.77 | $2.13 | $10.64 |
| Nevada | $12.00 | $12.00 (no tip credit) | $0.00 |
| New Mexico | $12.00 | $3.00 | $9.00 |
| South Dakota | $11.85 | $5.92 | $5.92 |
| Minnesota | $11.13 | $11.13 (no tip credit) | $0.00 |
| Ohio | $11.00 | $5.50 | $5.50 |
| Arkansas | $11.00 | $2.63 | $8.37 |
| Montana | $10.85 | $10.85 (no tip credit) | $0.00 |
| Michigan | $10.56 | $4.01 | $6.55 |
| West Virginia | $8.75 | $2.62 | $6.13 |
| Texas, Georgia, North Carolina, Alabama, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, Wyoming | $7.25 | $2.13 | $5.12 |
| Pennsylvania | $7.25 | $2.83 | $4.42 |
| Idaho | $7.25 | $3.35 | $3.90 |
| Iowa | $7.25 | $4.35 | $2.90 |
| New Hampshire | $7.25 | $3.27 | $3.98 |
| North Dakota | $7.25 | $4.86 | $2.39 |
| Wisconsin | $7.25 | $2.33 | $4.92 |
Why Does the Tipped Wage Vary So Much Between States?
Each state independently decides both its full minimum wage and whether to allow a tip credit at all, so the two numbers move separately. A high full minimum wage doesn't guarantee a high tipped cash wage: New Jersey's full rate is $15.49/hr but its tipped cash wage is just $5.62/hr, while Alaska's full rate is lower at $13.00/hr but its tipped workers get the entire amount in cash since Alaska bans the tip credit outright.
What Happens If Tips Don't Add Up to the Full Minimum Wage?
In every state that allows a tip credit, the employer is legally required to make up the shortfall if a server's direct wages plus tips don't reach the full state minimum wage in a given workweek. This "make-up" obligation is calculated per workweek, not averaged over a longer pay period, so a slow week can't be offset against a busy one.
Does This Apply to Bartenders Too?
Yes. Bartenders are generally treated the same as servers under tipped minimum wage law, as long as they customarily and regularly receive tips. Tip pool structures often differ in practice, with bartenders sometimes pooled separately from servers or with barbacks, but the legal cash wage and credit ceiling are the same regardless of job title.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the minimum wage for servers and waiters?
It varies by state, from as low as $2.13/hr in cash (topped up by tips) in most of the country, up to the full state minimum wage in the seven states that ban the tip credit entirely.
Which state has the highest tipped minimum wage?
Washington, California, and Oregon all require the full state minimum wage in cash for tipped workers, with no reduced rate, making their effective tipped minimum wage the highest in the country.
Do servers keep 100% of their tips?
Generally yes, aside from a legal tip pool shared among other tipped employees like bussers and hosts. Managers, supervisors, and owners can never be included in a tip pool under federal law.
How is overtime calculated for tipped servers?
Off the full minimum wage, not the reduced tipped cash wage. See our Florida tipped wage guide for a full overtime example.
For the official federal rules on tipped employees, see the US Department of Labor's tipped employee guidance. See our deep-dive guides for Florida and New York tipped wage rules, or check any state's current minimum wage.