| Rate type | Amount |
|---|---|
| Federal minimum wage (most employers) | $7.25 per hour |
| Georgia state minimum wage (non-FLSA employment, 6+ employees) | $5.15 per hour |
| Tipped cash wage (federal) | $2.13 per hour |
| Maximum tip credit (federal) | $5.12 per hour |
| Federal youth wage | $4.25 for workers under 20 in their first 90 consecutive calendar days |
| Overtime | 1.5x the regular rate after 40 hours in a workweek (federal FLSA) |
Sources: U.S. Department of Labor state minimum wage table (updated November 5, 2026), the U.S. DOL tipped wage table and the Georgia Department of Labor Employer Handbook.
Georgia’s minimum wage law sets $5.15 an hour for employers with 6 or more employees. The U.S. Department of Labor notes that the state law excludes any employment covered by the FLSA when the federal rate is higher, and that FLSA employers must pay $7.25. The Georgia Department of Labor puts it plainly: most employers in Georgia must follow the federal $7.25, and the $5.15 rate applies only in rare and limited cases.
Generally, yes if your business has at least $500,000 in annual sales, or if employees engage in interstate commerce, which includes handling goods that crossed state lines or processing card payments. Hospitals, schools and government agencies are covered too. When in doubt, pay $7.25. For other Georgia rules on pay timing and minors, see our Georgia labor laws guide.
No increase is scheduled. Georgia’s rate is not indexed to inflation, and the federal $7.25 has not changed since July 24, 2009. Bills to raise the state rate have been filed in the General Assembly, but none had become law as of November 14, 2026.
The DOL notes that Georgia’s state minimum wage law does not apply to tipped employees, so federal rules control. You may pay $2.13 an hour in cash and take up to a $5.12 tip credit if tips bring the employee to at least $7.25 for every hour. A tipped employee customarily and regularly receives more than $30 a month in tips. If tips fall short, you make up the difference. Use the tip credit calculator to check a week.
Federal law allows employers to pay workers under 20 a youth wage of $4.25 an hour during their first 90 consecutive calendar days. After 90 days, or at age 20, pay must rise to $7.25. You may not replace current staff to hire at the youth rate. Check child labor hour limits in the minimum age to work.
Georgia has no state overtime law, so the FLSA overtime rules apply: 1.5x after 40 hours in a workweek.
For a tipped server, overtime is based on the full $7.25: each overtime hour costs at least $10.875 minus the $5.12 tip credit, or $5.76 in cash.
| State | Basic minimum wage (Nov. 2026) |
|---|---|
| Florida | $15.00 |
| Georgia | $7.25 for FLSA employers |
| North Carolina | $7.25 |
| Alabama, South Carolina, Tennessee | No state law; federal $7.25 |
Figures from the U.S. Department of Labor state table, updated November 5, 2026. Employers near the Florida line often need to pay more to compete for staff.
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Georgia’s state rate is $5.15 per hour, but most employers are covered by federal law and must pay at least $7.25.
Federal rules apply: at least $2.13 per hour in cash, with tips bringing the employee to $7.25 an hour.
No increase is scheduled. The state rate is not indexed, and the federal $7.25 has not changed since 2009.
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Updated November 2026. Rates verified against official state sources on November 14, 2026. General information only; not legal advice.