Texas minimum wage: $7.25 an hour (the federal rate)
Checked November 8, 2026Source: Texas Workforce Commission
Short answer
Texas 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 Texas with its own higher minimum wage.
Texas minimum wage by date
| Effective | Minimum wage | Tipped cash wage | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| July 24, 2009Current | $7.25 | $2.13 | Texas adopts the federal minimum ($7.25 since July 24, 2009); state law excludes jobs covered by the federal Fair Labor Standards Act.source |
Other Texas pay rules
- Paydays
- At least twice a month; employees exempt from federal overtime at least monthly. If the employer sets no paydays, they are the 1st and 15th.
- Overtime
- Follows the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) rule: time and a half after 40 hours in a workweek. We found no separate state overtime rule.
- Final paycheck
- Fired: Within 6 calendar days of the discharge. Quit: By the next regular payday.
From the Texas Workforce Commission and the U.S. Department of Labor’s state tables. All Texas employer rules.
Minimum wage in states next to Texas
If you hire across a state line, the worker’s state sets the rate.
| State | Today | Next change |
|---|---|---|
| Texas | $7.25 | None scheduled |
| New Mexico | $12.00 | None scheduled |
| Arkansas | $11.00 | None scheduled |
| Louisiana | $7.25 | None scheduled |
| Oklahoma | $7.25 | None scheduled |
Questions employers ask
What is the minimum wage in Texas in 2026?
Texas 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 Texas?
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 Texas minimum wage go up next?
No increase is scheduled under current Texas law. Any change would need new legislation or a ballot measure.
Do cities in Texas have a higher minimum wage?
We found no city or county minimum wage in Texas.
Does Texas require overtime pay?
Follows the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) rule: time and a half after 40 hours in a workweek. We found no separate state overtime rule.
Compare every state’s minimum wage · Everything employers in Texas must do
Sources
- Texas Workforce Commission
- Minimum Wages for Tipped Employees (revised November 5, 2026), U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division (read Nov 8, 2026)
- Texas Labor Code Chapter 62, Minimum Wage, Texas Legislature (read Nov 8, 2026)