Minimum Wage in GA (Georgia) 2026
Last updated: · Source: Georgia Department of Labor
Georgia · Minimum Wage 2026
Effective 2009-07-24
Data last verified: 2026-07-09
Tipped Rate
$2.13/hr
Tip Credit
$5.12/hr
Exempt Salary
$684/wk
Effective Date
2009-07-24
Georgia Wage Calculator
Minimum Wage in GA (Georgia)
The minimum wage in Georgia is $7.25 per hour in 2026, effective 2009-07-24. Georgia follows the federal minimum wage set by the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), which has remained at $7.25/hr since 2009. Also searched as minimum wage in GA. See the federal minimum wage page for how the FLSA floor applies nationwide.
Under the Fair Labor Standards Act, employers must pay the highest minimum wage that legally applies to a work location, whether set federally, by the state, or by a city or county ordinance.
Georgia Tipped Minimum Wage
In Georgia, tipped employees may be paid a direct cash wage of $2.13/hr. Employers may claim a tip credit of up to $5.12/hr, but the employee's total hourly earnings (direct wages + tips) must equal at least the full minimum wage of $7.25/hr. If tips fall short, the employer must make up the difference.
| Component | Rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Direct cash wage | $2.13/hr | Minimum employer must pay directly |
| Tip credit | $5.12/hr | Maximum credit employer may claim |
| Total required | $7.25/hr | Wages + tips must reach this floor |
Georgia Exempt Employee Salary Threshold (2026)
An "exempt" employee is a salaried worker who, by law, isn't entitled to overtime pay (time-and-a-half) for hours worked beyond 40 in a week. Whether a salaried employee actually qualifies as exempt depends on both their pay and their job duties. Georgia follows the federal FLSA salary threshold. To qualify for the white-collar (executive, administrative, or professional) overtime exemption, salaried employees must earn at least $684/week ($35,568/year) in 2026.
Georgia Minimum Wage History
The following table shows minimum wage rates in Georgia over the past several years.
| Year | Minimum Wage | Effective Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $7.25/hr | 2009-07-24 | |
| 2009 | $7.25/hr | 2009-07-24 |
Frequently Asked Questions
The minimum wage in Georgia is $7.25 per hour in 2026, effective 2009-07-24. Tipped employees may be paid $2.13 per hour provided tips bring total earnings to at least $7.25/hr.
Georgia has no state minimum wage above the federal $7.25/hr. No increase scheduled.
In Georgia, tipped employees must be paid at least $2.13 per hour directly. Employers may claim a tip credit of up to $5.12/hr, but total compensation including tips must reach $7.25/hr.
Georgia follows the federal FLSA salary threshold. Salaried exempt employees must earn at least $684/week ($35,568/year) to qualify for the white-collar overtime exemption in 2026.
Georgia follows the federal minimum wage. State law sets a $5.15 minimum but federal FLSA overrides it for covered employers.
The minimum wage in GA (Georgia) is $7.25 per hour in 2026, the same as the federal minimum wage.