US Minimum Wage Texas 2026
Last updated: · Source: Texas Department of Labor
Texas · 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
Texas Wage Calculator
US Minimum Wage Texas
The minimum wage in Texas is $7.25 per hour in 2026, effective 2009-07-24. Texas 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 US minimum wage Texas. 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.
Texas Tipped Minimum Wage
In Texas, 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 |
Texas 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. Texas 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.
Texas Minimum Wage History
The following table shows minimum wage rates in Texas 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 | |
| 2008 | $6.55/hr | 2008-07-24 | |
| 2007 | $5.85/hr | 2007-07-24 |
Frequently Asked Questions
The minimum wage in Texas 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.
Texas matches the federal minimum wage of $7.25/hr, unchanged since 2009. No increase is currently scheduled.
In Texas, 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.
Texas 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.
Texas law prohibits cities and counties from setting minimum wages above the state/federal floor. Dallas, Houston, Austin, and San Antonio cannot legally set higher local rates.
The US minimum wage in Texas is $7.25 per hour in 2026, the same as the federal minimum wage, since Texas has not set its own higher state rate.