Georgia Minimum Wage in 2026
Most Georgia workers must be paid at least $7.25 an hour, the federal minimum wage. Georgia’s own law, OCGA 34-4-3, sets $5.15. The Georgia Department of Labor says that with “some limited exceptions, the federal minimum wage rate applies.”
Key facts
- The state rate is $5.15, $2.10 below the federal $7.25 (Georgia DOL).
- The state law covers only employers of 6 or more that the federal law does not reach (U.S. DOL).
- Tipped workers can be paid $2.13 an hour in cash if tips make up the rest.
- About 25,000 Georgia hourly workers earned $7.25 or less in 2024 (BLS).
- $15,080
- a year for full-time work at $7.25, before taxes
- $10,712
- a year at Georgia's $5.15 rate
- $4,368
- the difference over a full-time year
The federal rate has not changed since 2009, so its buying power has shrunk. In today’s prices, $7.25 buys about 35.7% less than it did when it took effect. Keeping pace would take about $11.28 an hour, according to the consumer price figures on our minimum wage explainer.
Who the Georgia Rate Covers
Georgia’s $5.15 rate reaches only jobs the federal Fair Labor Standards Act does not cover. The U.S. Department of Labor’s summary says the state law applies to employers of 6 or more employees and excludes “any employment that is subject to the federal Fair Labor Standards Act when the federal rate is greater than the State rate” (U.S. DOL).
That leaves a narrow group at $5.15. Employers covered by the federal law must pay $7.25. If you are unsure which rate applies to your job, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division enforces the federal law and takes complaints.
| Category | Value |
|---|---|
| Florida | $15 |
| Georgia | $7.25 |
| Alabama (no state law, federal rate) | $7.25 |
| Tennessee (no state law, federal rate) | $7.25 |
| North Carolina | $7.25 |
| South Carolina (no state law, federal rate) | $7.25 |
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, State Minimum Wage Laws (updated July 1, 2026). Rates as of October 14, 2026.
Among Georgia’s neighbors, only Florida pays more than $7.25. Alabama, Tennessee and South Carolina have no state minimum wage law at all, so the federal rate applies there too.
Tipped Minimum Wage in Georgia
Georgia employers can pay tipped workers $2.13 an hour in cash, the federal tipped wage. The worker’s tips must bring the total to at least $7.25 for every hour. If they fall short, the employer pays the difference, up to $5.12 an hour.
Why Atlanta Cannot Raise Wages
A 2004 Georgia law bars cities and counties from setting a higher minimum wage for private employers. So Atlanta, Savannah or any county cannot adopt a local floor, the way some cities in other states have. A change for Georgia workers would have to come from the General Assembly or from Congress. Our preemption explainer shows which states block local wages.
Georgia Wages by Situation
Open the situation closest to yours. This is general information, not legal advice.
Georgia minimum wage, by situation
I am paid less than $7.25 an hour
- Write down your hours and pay for each week.
- Ask your employer in writing whether your job is covered by the federal Fair Labor Standards Act.
- Contact the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division, which enforces the federal minimum wage.
Georgia DOL says the federal rate applies to most Georgia employers.
My tips do not reach $7.25 an hour
- Track your cash wage and reported tips for every shift.
- Ask your employer to make up the shortfall for that pay period.
- If they will not, file a complaint with the Wage and Hour Division.
Tips plus the $2.13 cash wage must reach $7.25 for every hour.
Where Things Stand
Georgia minimum wage laws
As of October 1, 2026
- Georgia minimum wage (OCGA 34-4-3) Law, $5.15 an hour
Applies to employers of 6 or more employees whose workers are not covered by the federal Fair Labor Standards Act. (source)
- Federal minimum wage (FLSA) Law, $7.25 since July 24, 2009
Applies to most Georgia employers, according to the Georgia Department of Labor. (source)
- Local minimum wages Law, Blocked by state law
Georgia law (Ga. Code Ann. § 34-4-3.1, 2004) bars cities and counties from setting their own minimum wage. (source)
Source: Georgia Department of Labor; U.S. Department of Labor; Economic Policy Institute
Georgia Minimum Wage Questions
What is the minimum wage in Georgia in 2026?
For most workers, $7.25 an hour, the federal minimum. Georgia’s own law sets $5.15, but the Georgia Department of Labor says the federal rate applies with some limited exceptions.
Who can be paid $5.15 an hour in Georgia?
Only workers whose jobs fall outside the federal Fair Labor Standards Act. The state law covers employers with 6 or more employees, and it does not apply to any job the federal law covers when the federal rate is higher.
What is the tipped minimum wage in Georgia?
$2.13 an hour in cash, the federal tipped wage. If your wage plus tips does not reach $7.25 for every hour, your employer must make up the difference, up to $5.12 an hour.
Can Atlanta raise its own minimum wage?
No. A 2004 Georgia law bars cities and counties from setting a minimum wage for private employers.
When did Georgia's minimum wage last go up?
Georgia’s statewide rate is still $5.15. The federal minimum that covers most Georgia workers last rose on July 24, 2009, to $7.25.
What You Can Do
- Check your pay stub against $7.25. If you earn less and your employer says the state rate applies, ask why in writing.
- Report unpaid wages to the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division.
- Ask candidates where they stand. Every seat in the General Assembly is on the November 3, 2026 ballot, and only the legislature can change the state rate or let cities set their own. See our Georgia governor race guide.
- Write your members of Congress about the federal minimum, which sets the floor for most Georgia workers. Our letter-writing guide shows how.
- Compare other states on our minimum wage by state page.