Virginia Minimum Wage 2026
The minimum wage in Virginia is $12.77 per hour in 2026, effective January 1, 2026. 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 Virginia in 2026?
The Virginia minimum wage is $12.77 per hour as of January 1, 2026. The rate rose from $12.41 in 2025 through Virginia's annual inflation adjustment, which recalculates the wage floor every January based on the Consumer Price Index.
Virginia's rate is well above the federal minimum wage of $7.25, so the state rate applies to nearly all hourly workers in the Commonwealth. Larger scheduled jumps to $13.50 and $15.00 were passed by the General Assembly but vetoed in 2024, which is why Virginia now relies on CPI indexing instead of fixed step increases.
Tipped minimum wage in Virginia
Virginia allows employers to take the full federal tip credit, so the tipped minimum wage in Virginia is $2.13 per hour in direct cash wages. Tips must bring each tipped employee up to at least $12.77 per hour for every workweek.
If an employee's tips plus the $2.13 cash wage fall short of $12.77 in any workweek, the employer must make up the difference. Keep accurate tip records for every shift; back-wage claims in tipped roles are one of the most common wage disputes in hospitality hiring.
Virginia minimum wage history: 2020 to 2026
| Year | Minimum wage | Tipped wage |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | $7.25 | $2.13 |
| 2021 | $9.50 | $2.13 |
| 2022 | $11.00 | $2.13 |
| 2023 | $12.00 | $2.13 |
| 2024 | $12.00 | $2.13 |
| 2025 | $12.41 | $2.13 |
| 2026 | $12.77 | $2.13 |
Upcoming minimum wage increases in Virginia
Virginia adjusts its minimum wage every January 1 based on the Consumer Price Index. The Virginia Department of Labor and Industry announces the following year's rate each fall, typically in October.
There are no fixed step increases currently scheduled. Legislation to raise the wage to $15.00 has been introduced repeatedly in the General Assembly, so employers planning multi-year labor budgets should watch each legislative session.
Minimum wage by city in Virginia
Virginia does not allow cities or counties to set their own minimum wage, so the $12.77 state rate applies everywhere from Virginia Beach to Richmond to Arlington.
Market wages still vary widely by region. In Northern Virginia, competition with Washington, DC employers (where the minimum wage is above $17) pushes typical hourly pay for retail and food service well above the state floor.
State rate applies
State rate applies
State rate; DC market nearby pushes real wages higher
State rate applies
What Virginia employers need to know
Coverage
The Virginia Minimum Wage Act covers nearly all employees, including part-time and seasonal workers. A small number of exemptions remain, such as certain student workers and some agricultural jobs.
Overtime
The Virginia Overtime Wage Act requires 1.5x the regular rate for hours over 40 in a workweek, largely mirroring the federal FLSA.
Tipped employees
You may pay $2.13 in cash wages only if tips reliably bring pay to $12.77 per hour each workweek. Track tips per pay period and top up any shortfall.
Posting and records
Display the current Virginia minimum wage poster and keep payroll records showing hours worked and wages paid for each employee.
How other states compare
See how Virginia's $12.77 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 Virginia labor department. Minimum wage laws change frequently; confirm current rates with those sources or legal counsel before setting pay.
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