Minimum wage in Connecticut in 2026
The minimum wage in Connecticut is $16.94 an hour in 2026. It rises to $17.48 on January 1, 2027, as announced by the state.
Checked against official sources.
Connecticut minimum wage at a glance
- An hour
- $16.94
- A week, 40 hours
- $677.60
- A year, 2,080 hours
- $35,235
- Tipped cash wage
- $6.38before tips
In effect since . A year means 40 hours a week for 52 weeks, before taxes.
Upcoming raises
- $17.48 an hour, $36,358 a year (announced by the state)
Tipped workers
Employers in Connecticut can pay tipped workers as little as $6.38 an hour in cash and count up to $10.56 an hour in tips toward the $16.94 minimum wage. If tips do not make up the difference, the employer must. That is for hotel and restaurant wait staff. Bartenders get at least $8.23 in cash. Both cash wages are fixed in state law, so they stay the same when the minimum wage rises.
Who gets a different rate
- Workers under 18. 85% of the minimum wage for their first 90 days, then the full rate
Connecticut minimum wage by year
| Year | Rate on January 1 |
|---|---|
| 2022 | $14.00 |
| 2023 | $15.00 |
| 2024 | $15.69 |
| 2025 | $16.35 |
| 2026 | $16.94 |
Connecticut raises the rate every January 1 by the national Employment Cost Index and announces it by October 15.
Common questions
What is the minimum wage in Connecticut in 2026?
The minimum wage in Connecticut is $16.94 an hour in 2026. It rises to $17.48 on January 1, 2027, as announced by the state.
How much is minimum wage a year in Connecticut?
At $16.94 an hour, a full-time worker on 40 hours a week earns $677.60 a week and $35,235 a year before taxes.
What is the minimum wage for tipped workers in Connecticut?
Employers in Connecticut can pay tipped workers as little as $6.38 an hour in cash and count up to $10.56 an hour in tips toward the $16.94 minimum wage. If tips do not make up the difference, the employer must. That is for hotel and restaurant wait staff. Bartenders get at least $8.23 in cash. Both cash wages are fixed in state law, so they stay the same when the minimum wage rises.
When does the minimum wage go up in Connecticut?
It rises to $17.48 on January 1, 2027. Connecticut raises the rate every January 1 by the national Employment Cost Index and announces it by October 15.
Is there a different minimum wage for some workers in Connecticut?
Workers under 18: (85% of the minimum wage for their first 90 days, then the full rate).
Minimum wage in other Northeastern states
Sources
Every rate on this page comes from the official pages below. Checked .
- Wage and Workplace Standards, Connecticut Department of Labor
- Governor Lamont announces Connecticut's minimum wage will increase to $17.48 on January 1, 2027, Office of the Governor of Connecticut, updated
- Restaurant and hotel wage order poster (DOL-79, 2026), Connecticut Department of Labor
- Chapter 558, Wages (CGS 31-58, 31-60), Connecticut General Assembly
- State Minimum Wage Laws, U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division, updated
- Minimum Wages for Tipped Employees, U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division, updated
- Changes in Basic Minimum Wages in Non-Farm Employment Under State Law, 1968 to 2024, U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division
Laws change. If your pay is below these rates, contact your state labor department or the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division at 1-866-487-9243.