Pennsylvania Minimum Wage in 2026
Pennsylvania’s minimum wage is $7.25 an hour in 2026, the same as the federal minimum. Tipped workers can be paid $2.83 an hour in cash if tips bring them up to $7.25. The rate has not changed since July 24, 2009, when the federal minimum last rose (U.S. Department of Labor).
Key facts
- Pennsylvania is one of 20 states where most workers get only the federal $7.25.
- Every state on Pennsylvania’s border pays more; the lowest, West Virginia, pays $8.75.
- The state House passed House Bill 2189 on March 24, 2026, raising the wage to $15 by 2029 (Office of the Governor).
- The bill is in a state Senate committee, and the Senate has not taken it up.
- $15,080
- a year for full-time work at $7.25, before taxes
- 17
- years without a raise
- $31,200
- a year at $15, the rate HB 2189 reaches in 2029
A full-time worker at $7.25 earns $15,080 a year before taxes. These figures use the same full-time year as our minimum wage explainer, which shows how much buying power the federal rate has lost since 2009.
Pennsylvania and Neighboring States
Pennsylvania pays the least of any state on its border.
| Category | Value |
|---|---|
| New York | $16 |
| New Jersey | $15.92 |
| Delaware | $15 |
| Maryland | $15 |
| Ohio | $11 |
| West Virginia | $8.75 |
| Pennsylvania | $7.25 |
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, State Minimum Wage Laws (updated July 1, 2026). Rates as of October 14, 2026.
A worker who crosses into West Virginia earns $1.50 more an hour, and the gap with New Jersey, New York, Delaware and Maryland is larger. Our minimum wage by state page shows every state’s rate.
The Pennsylvania $15 Minimum Wage Bill
House Bill 2189 would raise Pennsylvania’s minimum wage in three steps and then tie it to prices. The version the House passed sets these rates, followed by a yearly cost-of-living adjustment from 2030 (HB 2189, printer’s number 3059):
Pennsylvania minimum wage under House Bill 2189, as passed by the House
Source: House Bill 2189, printer's number 3059 (2025-2026 session)
The bill passed the House on March 24, 2026 and now sits in the Senate. Governor Josh Shapiro has asked for $15 in each budget, and his office says the House has now passed a raise three times without Senate action (Office of the Governor). On September 30, 2026, a resolution to pull the bill out of its Senate committee was presented, the latest step on the bill’s record (Pennsylvania General Assembly).
Tipped Minimum Wage in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania employers can pay tipped workers $2.83 an hour in cash, but only if tips bring the total to at least $7.25 for every hour. If tips fall short, the employer must make up the difference. HB 2189 would raise the cash wage to 60% of the minimum, which would be $9.00 once the minimum reaches $15.
Why Pennsylvania Cities Cannot Raise Wages
A 2006 state law bars Pennsylvania cities and counties from setting their own minimum wage. So Philadelphia and Pittsburgh cannot adopt a higher floor for private employers. HB 2189 would let a county set a wage of up to $15 by ordinance after December 31, 2026 (HB 2189). Our preemption explainer shows which states block local wages.
Pennsylvania Wages by Situation
Open the situation closest to yours. This is general information, not legal advice.
Pennsylvania minimum wage, by situation
I am paid less than $7.25 an hour
- Write down your hours and pay for each week.
- Keep your pay stubs and any schedule your employer gives you.
- File a wage complaint with the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry's Bureau of Labor Law Compliance.
$7.25 is the floor for most Pennsylvania workers, and the state enforces it.
My tips do not reach the minimum
- 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 Bureau of Labor Law Compliance.
Tips plus the $2.83 cash wage must reach $7.25 for every hour.
Where Things Stand
Pennsylvania minimum wage laws
As of October 3, 2026
- Pennsylvania minimum wage (Minimum Wage Act of 1968) Law, $7.25 an hour, the federal floor
Unchanged since July 24, 2009, when the federal minimum last rose; state law does not raise it on its own. (source)
- House Bill 2189 ($15 by 2029) Proposal, Passed the House March 24, 2026
In the Senate; a resolution to discharge it from committee was presented September 30, 2026. (source)
- Local minimum wages Law, Blocked by state law
Pennsylvania law (43 Pa. Stat. Ann. § 333.114a, 2006) bars cities and counties from setting their own minimum wage. HB 2189 would let counties set up to $15. (source)
Source: U.S. Department of Labor; Pennsylvania General Assembly; Economic Policy Institute
Pennsylvania Minimum Wage Questions
What is the minimum wage in Pennsylvania in 2026?
$7.25 an hour, the same as the federal minimum and unchanged since July 24, 2009. Tipped workers can be paid $2.83 in cash if tips bring them up to $7.25.
Is the Pennsylvania minimum wage going up?
Not yet. House Bill 2189 would raise it to $11 in 2027, $13 in 2028 and $15 in 2029. The House passed it on March 24, 2026, and it is waiting in a Senate committee.
What is the tipped minimum wage in Pennsylvania?
$2.83 an hour in cash, as long as tips bring the total to at least $7.25 an hour. House Bill 2189 would set the cash wage at 60% of the minimum, $9.00 once the minimum reaches $15.
Can Philadelphia set a higher minimum wage?
Not for private employers. A 2006 state law bars Pennsylvania cities and counties from setting their own minimum wage. House Bill 2189 would let a county set up to $15 by ordinance.
What You Can Do
- Ask your state senator where they stand on House Bill 2189. The bill passed the House and needs a Senate vote. Find your senator with the General Assembly’s legislator lookup.
- Keep your own record of hours and pay, so you can show what you were paid if you need to file a complaint.
- Report unpaid wages to the Department of Labor and Industry’s Bureau of Labor Law Compliance.
- Vote on November 3. Half the state Senate and the whole House are on the ballot, along with the governor. See our Pennsylvania governor race guide.
- Compare other states on our minimum wage by state page.