Minimum wage in Tennessee in 2026
Tennessee has no state minimum wage law, so the federal minimum wage of $7.25 an hour applies in 2026. No increase is scheduled. Tennessee follows the federal rate, which has been $7.25 since July 24, 2009.
Checked against official sources.
Tennessee minimum wage at a glance
- An hour
- $7.25
- A week, 40 hours
- $290.00
- A year, 2,080 hours
- $15,080
- Tipped cash wage
- $2.13before tips
In effect since . A year means 40 hours a week for 52 weeks, before taxes.
Tipped workers
Federal law applies: tipped workers can be paid $2.13 an hour in cash if tips bring them up to at least $7.25 an hour. If they do not, the employer must make up the difference.
Tennessee minimum wage by year
| Year | Rate on January 1 |
|---|---|
| 2022 | $7.25 (federal) |
| 2023 | $7.25 (federal) |
| 2024 | $7.25 (federal) |
| 2025 | $7.25 (federal) |
| 2026 | $7.25 (federal) |
Tennessee has no minimum wage law of its own, so the federal $7.25 applies to most jobs.
Common questions
What is the minimum wage in Tennessee in 2026?
Tennessee has no state minimum wage law, so the federal minimum wage of $7.25 an hour applies in 2026. No increase is scheduled. Tennessee follows the federal rate, which has been $7.25 since July 24, 2009.
How much is minimum wage a year in Tennessee?
At $7.25 an hour, a full-time worker on 40 hours a week earns $290.00 a week and $15,080 a year before taxes.
What is the minimum wage for tipped workers in Tennessee?
Federal law applies: tipped workers can be paid $2.13 an hour in cash if tips bring them up to at least $7.25 an hour. If they do not, the employer must make up the difference.
When does the minimum wage go up in Tennessee?
No increase is scheduled. Tennessee follows the federal rate, which has been $7.25 since July 24, 2009. Tennessee has no minimum wage law of its own, so the federal $7.25 applies to most jobs.
Minimum wage in other Southern states
Sources
Every rate on this page comes from the official pages below. Checked .
- Should I be paid minimum wage?, Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development
- 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
- Minimum Wage, 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.