Utah Minimum Wage 2026
The minimum wage in Utah is $7.25 per hour in 2026, effective July 24, 2009. Tipped employees can be paid a cash wage of $2.13 per hour, as long as tips bring them to the full minimum.
What is the minimum wage in Utah in 2026?
Utah's minimum wage is $7.25 per hour in 2026, identical to the federal rate that took effect on July 24, 2009. The Utah Labor Commission sets the state minimum by rule to match the federal figure, so the two have moved in lockstep for years.
Utah is a case study in why a low legal floor can coexist with high actual wages. The state has run one of the lowest unemployment rates in the country for much of the past decade, and that persistent labor shortage, from Salt Lake City's tech corridor to St. George's construction boom, means the $7.25 floor almost never determines what employers really pay.
Tipped minimum wage in Utah
The tipped minimum wage in Utah is $2.13 per hour in cash wages, following the federal tip credit. Tips plus the cash wage must total at least $7.25 per hour for each workweek, with the employer responsible for any gap.
Utah's ski resorts and fast-growing restaurant scene rely heavily on tipped staff, and seasonal patterns matter: a resort-town server may clear the threshold easily in ski season and miss it in shoulder months. Weekly reconciliation, not seasonal averaging, is what the law requires.
Utah minimum wage history: 2020 to 2026
| Year | Minimum wage | Tipped wage |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | $7.25 | $2.13 |
| 2021 | $7.25 | $2.13 |
| 2022 | $7.25 | $2.13 |
| 2023 | $7.25 | $2.13 |
| 2024 | $7.25 | $2.13 |
| 2025 | $7.25 | $2.13 |
| 2026 | $7.25 | $2.13 |
Upcoming minimum wage increases in Utah
No increase is scheduled. Utah's rate rises only if the Legislature directs a higher state minimum or Congress raises the federal $7.25, and neither step is pending.
Wage bills introduced at the Utah Capitol have not advanced, and with unemployment among the nation's lowest, legislative urgency is limited: the market has been raising pay on its own. Employers should still monitor federal proposals, since a congressional increase would flow through to Utah automatically.
Minimum wage by city in Utah
Utah enacted one of the country's earliest wage preemption laws back in 2001, so no city or county may set its own minimum wage. Salt Lake City, West Valley City, Provo, and St. George all follow the $7.25 rate.
Uniform law, uneven markets: Silicon Slopes tech hiring lifts pay around Salt Lake and Provo, while St. George's rapid population growth keeps construction and service wages climbing in the state's southwest corner.
Federal rate; tech and finance hiring keeps effective entry wages high
Federal rate; the state's second-largest city tracks the Salt Lake metro market
Federal rate; a student-heavy labor pool meets Silicon Slopes demand
Federal rate; one of America's fastest-growing metros, with wages to match
What Utah employers need to know
Coverage
The Utah Minimum Wage Act applies broadly, with exemptions for outside sales, certain agricultural jobs, and casual domestic work. Minors may be paid $4.25 for their first 90 days under the federal youth wage.
Tipped employees
Pay at least $2.13 per hour in cash wages and confirm weekly that tips close the gap to $7.25. Utah requires tipped employees to customarily receive more than $30 per month in tips for the credit to apply.
Overtime
Utah has no state overtime statute, so the federal standard controls: 1.5x the regular rate after 40 hours in a workweek.
Posting and records
Display the federal FLSA poster and keep accurate time and pay records. The Utah Labor Commission handles wage claims and can audit tip credit documentation.
How other states compare
See how Utah's $7.25 rate stacks up against other state minimum wages in 2026, or browse the full minimum wage index for all 50 states.
Last verified:
Sources: the US Department of Labor's state minimum wage table and official announcements from the Utah labor department. Minimum wage laws change frequently; confirm current rates with those sources or legal counsel before setting pay.
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