Tennessee Minimum Wage 2026
Last updated: · Source: Tennessee Department of Labor
Tennessee · 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
Tennessee Wage Calculator
Current Tennessee Minimum Wage
The minimum wage in Tennessee is $7.25 per hour in 2026, effective 2009-07-24. Tennessee follows the federal minimum wage set by the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), which has remained at $7.25/hr since 2009. 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.
Tennessee Tipped Minimum Wage
In Tennessee, 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 |
Tennessee 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. Tennessee 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.
City & County Minimum Wages in Tennessee
Tenn. Code Ann. § 50-2-112 preempts local governments from requiring private employers to pay an hourly wage above the federal or state minimum wage.
| City / County | 2026 Rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Nashville | $7.25/hr (state rate) | State law preempts local minimum wage ordinances; follows the $7.25/hr federal rate. |
| Memphis | $7.25/hr (state rate) | State law preempts local minimum wage ordinances; follows the $7.25/hr federal rate. |
| Knoxville | $7.25/hr (state rate) | State law preempts local minimum wage ordinances; follows the $7.25/hr federal rate. |
| Chattanooga | $7.25/hr (state rate) | State law preempts local minimum wage ordinances; follows the $7.25/hr federal rate. |
Tennessee Minimum Wage History
The following table shows minimum wage rates in Tennessee over the past several years.
| Year | Minimum Wage | Effective Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $7.25/hr | 2009-07-24 |
Frequently Asked Questions
The minimum wage in Tennessee 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.
Tennessee has no state minimum wage law and remains at the federal $7.25/hr rate in 2026; a bill to raise it to $20/hr failed in the state Senate in February 2026.
In Tennessee, 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.
Tennessee 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.
Tenn. Code Ann. § 50-2-112 preempts local governments from requiring private employers to pay an hourly wage above the federal or state minimum wage.