Tennessee Minimum Wage 2026: $7.25/hr
Tennessee pays the federal minimum of $7.25 an hour.
Data updated
Key facts for Tennessee
- Minimum wage
- $7.25/hr
- In effect since
- Federal rate applies
- Tipped cash wage
- $2.13/hr
- Compared with federal
- Same as the federal $7.25
- Overtime
- 1.5x after 40 hrs/week
Source
- Rule
- Federal FLSA minimum wage
- Published by
- dol.gov
- Last updated
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Hourly rate and hours in, weekly pay with Tennessee overtime rules out.
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Tennessee's minimum wage is $7.25/hr in 2026, the same as the federal $7.25 minimum , ranked #47 of 51 US jurisdictions. The tipped cash wage is $2.13/hr.
How the Tennessee minimum wage works
In Tennessee, the minimum wage is $7.25 per hour, effective July 24, 2009. Tennessee aligns with the federal minimum wage, and a tip credit is allowed: the tipped cash wage is $2.13 per hour, with tips expected to bring total pay to at least the full minimum wage. Overtime is paid at 1.5× the regular rate after 40 hours in a workweek. The state defers to the federal FLSA standard.
Tennessee has no state minimum wage law. The federal rate of $7.25 applies to FLSA-covered employers.
How Tennessee compares
- State rate
- $7.25/hr
- Federal minimum
- $7.25/hr
- Difference
- None
- National rank
- #47 of 51
Ranked by 2026 effective minimum wage across all 51 U.S. states and jurisdictions. Federal comparison source: U.S. Department of Labor.
Tennessee overtime rules
- Weekly overtime threshold
- 40 hours (1.5x)
- Governing law
- Federal FLSA only
Tennessee has no state law regulating overtime pay. Federal FLSA rules apply: 1.5x the regular rate for hours over 40 per week.
Sources for this page
- Tennessee minimum wage — state labor department dol.gov
- Tennessee overtime rules — state labor department lwdsupport.tn.gov
- U.S. Department of Labor dol.gov