Tennessee minimum wage: $7.25 an hour (the federal rate)
Checked November 8, 2026Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division (no state minimum wage agency)
Short answer
Tennessee 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 $2.13 an hour in cash, as long as tips bring them up to at least $7.25.
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- Minimum wage today
- $7.25
- Tipped employees, cash wage
- $2.13
- Full-time year at today’s rate (2,080 hours)
- $15,080
We found no city or county in Tennessee with its own higher minimum wage.
What changed for Tennessee pay
· Took effect
Tennessee sets a later due date for piece-work and commission pay
Tennessee Public Chapter 617 took effect July 1, 2026, for wages earned on or after that date. For employers that pay once a month, piece-work and commission pay is now due by the last day of the next month instead of the 5th. The same pay owed to an employee who quits or is fired is due by the last day of the month after they leave.
Tennessee minimum wage by date
| Effective | Minimum wage | Tipped cash wage | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| July 24, 2009Current | $7.25 | $2.13 | No state minimum wage law; the federal minimum ($7.25 since July 24, 2009) and federal $2.13 tipped cash wage apply to employers covered by the federal Fair Labor Standards Act.source |
Other Tennessee pay rules
- Paydays
- At least once a month. Employers with 5 or more employees must set regular paydays, and wages are due by set dates after the pay period ends. Since July 1, 2026, employers paying once a month have until the last day of the next month for piece-work or commission pay.
- Overtime
- Follows the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) rule: time and a half after 40 hours in a workweek. No separate state overtime rule.
- Final paycheck
- Fired: By the next regular payday or 21 days after leaving, whichever is later. Piece-work or commission pay earned on or after July 1, 2026 is due by the last day of the month after the employee leaves. Quit: By the next regular payday or 21 days after leaving, whichever is later. Piece-work or commission pay earned on or after July 1, 2026 is due by the last day of the month after the employee leaves.
From the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development and the U.S. Department of Labor’s state tables. All Tennessee employer rules.
Minimum wage in states next to Tennessee
If you hire across a state line, the worker’s state sets the rate.
| State | Today | Next change |
|---|---|---|
| Tennessee | $7.25 | None scheduled |
| Missouri | $15.00 | None scheduled |
| Virginia | $12.77 | $13.75 on January 1, 2027 |
| Arkansas | $11.00 | None scheduled |
| Alabama | $7.25 | None scheduled |
| Georgia | $7.25 | None scheduled |
| Kentucky | $7.25 | None scheduled |
| Mississippi | $7.25 | None scheduled |
| North Carolina | $7.25 | None scheduled |
Questions employers ask
What is the minimum wage in Tennessee in 2026?
Tennessee 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 Tennessee?
Employers may pay tipped employees $2.13 an hour in cash, as long as tips bring them up to at least $7.25.
When does the Tennessee minimum wage go up next?
No increase is scheduled under current Tennessee law. Any change would need new legislation or a ballot measure.
Do cities in Tennessee have a higher minimum wage?
We found no city or county minimum wage in Tennessee.
Does Tennessee require overtime pay?
Follows the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) rule: time and a half after 40 hours in a workweek. No separate state overtime rule.
Compare every state’s minimum wage · Everything employers in Tennessee must do
Sources
- U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division (no state minimum wage agency)
- Minimum Wages for Tipped Employees (revised November 5, 2026), U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division (read Nov 8, 2026)
- History of Federal Minimum Wage Rates Under the FLSA, 1938-2009, U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division (read Nov 8, 2026)