Minimum wage in West Virginia in 2026
The minimum wage in West Virginia is $8.75 an hour in 2026. No increase is scheduled in state law.
Checked against official sources.
West Virginia minimum wage at a glance
- An hour
- $8.75
- A week, 40 hours
- $350.00
- A year, 2,080 hours
- $18,200
- Tipped cash wage
- $2.62before tips
In effect since . A year means 40 hours a week for 52 weeks, before taxes.
Tipped workers
Employers in West Virginia can pay tipped workers as little as $2.62 an hour in cash and count up to $6.13 an hour in tips toward the $8.75 minimum wage. If tips do not make up the difference, the employer must. State law lets employers count tips for up to 70% of the minimum wage.
Who gets a different rate
The $8.75 state rate applies where an employer has six or more workers at one location. Smaller employers covered by federal law pay $7.25.
- Training wage: $6.40 an hour. Workers under 20, for their first 90 days
West Virginia minimum wage by year
| Year | Rate on January 1 |
|---|---|
| 2022 | $8.75 |
| 2023 | $8.75 |
| 2024 | $8.75 |
| 2025 | $8.75 |
| 2026 | $8.75 |
West Virginia's rate is set in state law and has been $8.75 since January 1, 2016.
Common questions
What is the minimum wage in West Virginia in 2026?
The minimum wage in West Virginia is $8.75 an hour in 2026. No increase is scheduled in state law.
How much is minimum wage a year in West Virginia?
At $8.75 an hour, a full-time worker on 40 hours a week earns $350.00 a week and $18,200 a year before taxes.
What is the minimum wage for tipped workers in West Virginia?
Employers in West Virginia can pay tipped workers as little as $2.62 an hour in cash and count up to $6.13 an hour in tips toward the $8.75 minimum wage. If tips do not make up the difference, the employer must. State law lets employers count tips for up to 70% of the minimum wage.
When does the minimum wage go up in West Virginia?
No increase is scheduled in state law. West Virginia's rate is set in state law and has been $8.75 since January 1, 2016.
Is there a different minimum wage for some workers in West Virginia?
Training wage: $6.40 an hour (workers under 20, for their first 90 days).
Minimum wage in other Southern states
Sources
Every rate on this page comes from the official pages below. Checked .
- Minimum Wage FAQ, West Virginia Division of Labor
- W. Va. Code § 21-5C-2, Minimum wages, West Virginia Legislature
- W. Va. Code § 21-5C-4, Credits, West Virginia Legislature
- 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.