What is the minimum wage in Florida?
A new Florida law enacted in 2004 requires that the state minimum wage be reevaluated every year to ensure that employee wages are keeping pace with inflation. Currently (effective January 1, 2006) the minimum wage in Florida is $6.40 / hour for non-tipped employees. Tipped employees are paid $3.38 / hour plus their earned tips – this combined total must equal at least $6.40 / hour or the company must make up the difference. The state minimum wage will be reevaluted again for a new wage increase on January 1, 2007. It is true that the federal minimum wage law is less than the Florida state minimum wage, however employers are required to pay the higher prevailing wage. Thus all employees working in Florida must be paid at least $6.40 / hour, regardless of federal law.
Florida’s minimum wage is $6.67 per hour, effective January 1, 2007. The federal minimum wage for covered nonexempt employees is $5.85 per hour effective July 24, 2007. In deciding whether the federal or state minimum wage applies, federal law directs that businesses must pay the higher of the two. The Florida minimum wage will prevail over the federal rate until such time as the federal minimum wage becomes higher than the state rate.
