Pennsylvania minimum wage: $7.25 an hour (the federal rate)
Checked November 7, 2026Source: Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry
Short answer
Pennsylvania has no state minimum wage above the federal one, so most employers there must pay at least $7.25 an hour under the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).
Employers may pay tipped employees $2.83 an hour in cash, as long as tips bring them up to at least $7.25.
Get Pennsylvania rate alerts
One email when a rate, a law or a deadline changes. Free. Privacy.
- Minimum wage today
- $7.25
- Tipped employees, cash wage
- $2.83
- Full-time year at today’s rate (2,080 hours)
- $15,080
We found no city or county in Pennsylvania with its own higher minimum wage.
Pennsylvania minimum wage by date
| Effective | Minimum wage | Tipped cash wage | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| July 24, 2009Current | $7.25 | $2.83 | Rate unchanged since July 24, 2009. Tip credit requires at least $135/month in tips. House Bill 2189 ($11 in 2027 rising to $15 in 2029) passed the House in March 2026 but is still in the Senate; not law.source |
Other Pennsylvania pay rules
- Paydays
- No set frequency. Pay on regular paydays set in advance, no more than 15 days after the pay period ends unless a contract or trade custom allows longer.
- Overtime
- State law matches the federal rule: time and a half after 40 hours in a workweek.
- Final paycheck
- Fired: By the next regular payday. Quit: By the next regular payday.
From the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry and the U.S. Department of Labor’s state tables. All Pennsylvania employer rules.
Minimum wage in states next to Pennsylvania
If you hire across a state line, the worker’s state sets the rate.
| State | Today | Next change |
|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania | $7.25 | None scheduled |
| New York | $17.00$16.00 in the rest of the state | No raise on January 1, 2027 |
| New Jersey | $15.92 | $16.48 on January 1, 2027 |
| Delaware | $15.00 | None scheduled |
| Maryland | $15.00 | None scheduled |
| Ohio | $11.00 | $11.40 on January 1, 2027 |
| West Virginia | $8.75 | None scheduled |
Questions employers ask
What is the minimum wage in Pennsylvania in 2026?
Pennsylvania has no state minimum wage above the federal one, so most employers there must pay at least $7.25 an hour under the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).
What is the tipped minimum wage in Pennsylvania?
Employers may pay tipped employees $2.83 an hour in cash, as long as tips bring them up to at least $7.25.
When does the Pennsylvania minimum wage go up next?
No increase is scheduled under current Pennsylvania law. Any change would need new legislation or a ballot measure.
Do cities in Pennsylvania have a higher minimum wage?
We found no city or county minimum wage in Pennsylvania.
Does Pennsylvania require overtime pay?
State law matches the federal rule: time and a half after 40 hours in a workweek.
Compare every state’s minimum wage · Everything employers in Pennsylvania must do
Sources
- Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry
- Overtime and Tipped Worker Rules in PA, Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry (read Nov 7, 2026)
- Wage FAQs (Pennsylvania’s Minimum Wage Act), Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry (read Nov 7, 2026)
- House Bill 2189 (2025-2026 session) bill history, Pennsylvania General Assembly (read Nov 7, 2026)
- Minimum Wages for Tipped Employees (revised November 5, 2026), U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division (read Nov 7, 2026)